Voter Guide 2001: High school district pins hopes on Measure G Voter Guide 2001: High school district pins hopes on Measure G (October 24, 2001)

By David Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer

Voters in the Sequoia Union High School District this November will have another opportunity to consider an $88 million bond measure to upgrade facilities at the district's four comprehensive high schools. A nearly identical measure was narrowly defeated in the June 2001 election.

Measure G differs from the earlier measure in that it requires only a 55 percent majority for passage rather than two-thirds.

This lower threshold, permitted by the passage of state Proposition 39, is balanced by a requirement for close citizen scrutiny over how the money is used. Also, Proposition 39 requires that state ballot language include a specific list of projects that the money will be spent on.

Funds from school bond measures passed under the provisions of Proposition 39 can be used to build, rehabilitate or equip school facilities, but cannot be used to pay teacher salaries or operating expenses.

If Measure G passes, a property owner in the Sequoia district would pay an average of $7.68 a year per $100,000 of assessed value over the life of the bonds. A homeowner whose house is assessed at $500,000 would pay about $38 per year.

What projects?

Measure G would provide each of the four Sequoia district high schools with $22 million.

At Menlo-Atherton High School, plans include building a small gymnasium and a visual and performing arts center, both to be shared with the community; and a student and parent tutoring center.

Woodside High School plans to build a visual and performing arts center that includes classroom space for performing arts classes. The space currently used for performing arts classes would be devoted to office space and special education classes.

Project lists for each school call for constructing new classrooms; modernizing existing classrooms with such improvements as new paint, flooring and cabinetry and upgraded ventilation systems; providing access to classrooms and restrooms as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act; and upgrading the infrastructure of water, power, phone and security systems.

Each school's list also includes plans to modify buildings to "create a small school experience" for students.

Supporters

Proponents of Measure G say the schools are old facilities that need repairs. Sequoia High School was built in 1923; the other three schools were built during the 1950s.

Proponents also say that because Measure G falls under the provisions of Proposition 39, the accountability safeguards built into such measures ensure the money will be spent as promised in the project list. Safeguards include annual independent financial and performance audits and an independent citizen's oversight committee to watch over spending.

The oversight committee must include at least seven members of the community, including one business person, one senior citizen, one representative of a bone fide taxpayer's association, a parent and a PTA member. Vendors, contractors and consultants associated with the school board are not allowed on the committee.

Opponents

Opponents of Measure G, such as the Libertarian Party of San Mateo County, argue in the ballot pamphlet that the Sequoia district doesn't need the money because its property tax base is high. They accuse the district of addressing the same facility-upgrade projects proposed in 1996 with Measure V, in which voters approved $45 million in bonds.

Back in May 2001, the district's Deputy Superintendent Don Gielow, now retired, said the work begun with Measure V turned out to be more extensive than expected and that Measure A was needed to finish the job.

"All the major construction under Measure V was done," he said. "We knew when we did Measure V that it would not even be close for doing everything, but that doesn't mean you don't start."