The Boulder Valley School District is asking voters to approve a $296 million bond in November, and the word is that the campaign is struggling. Donations are not as high as was hoped, and it's likely voters won't even see a direct mail piece. (The above bond amount was corrected from a previous post I made - thank you to anonymous who posted a comment on 10/9/06.)
Ballot Issue 3A - if passed - would give BVSD money for outdated capital equipment such as electrical upgrades, windows, installing air conditioning in schools without, making schools ADA accessible, and computer upgrades. While all defensible as needs, BVSD is fighting a credibility battle. Many people feel the District's last two bond requests put money into different expenses than voters were told they would go. In fact, there is formal opposition on the No on 3A website and the BVSD Watch group's website. The opposition says "BVSD wants $300 million, at a true cost to taxpayers of more than $600 million, to repair and upgrade schools. But the 3A bond doesn't tie BVSD to do a single "promised" item in their "Master Plan." That plan can be changed any time BVSD desires without voter approval. Think you'll get a new parking lot, gym, A/C for your school? Think again. If it's not in the Bond (and it's not), there's no guarantee it will happen."
Helayne Jones, President of the BVSD Board of Education, said in a Daily Camera Editorial that if this bond issue passes, "each of us as individuals and collectively as a school board commits to extensive stakeholder involvement in both design and construction planning. Internal stakeholders will include parents, teachers, and administrators. External stakeholders will include neighboring residents and businesses, local government, the environmental community, historic preservation organizations, etc." Read BVSD facilities threaten academic excellence.
Check out the 3A campaign's arguments and see if you're convinced. The schools need the money, just make sure you think the wording of the ballot will have the results supporters promise.
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Let's start with some corrections. The amount of the bond is not 396 million, it is 296 million. Big difference. It is one of 20 such bonds on ballots across Colorado this year. Per capita, it is in the middle of the pack dollar-wise. The "trust" issue, as the opponents tag it, is really inside baseball. Some small pockets of discontent will always exist, but look at the endorsement list of individuals and organizations. Every municipal government from Broomfield to Nederland. Business groups, environmentalists, charter activists, community and education leaders are all "on the same page". Additionally, the assertion of the "true cost" is inaccurate. The bonds, should 3A pass, will be competitively bid for the first time. This, along with BVSD's excellent credit rating, should assure us the lowest repayment rate possible. The ballot language is tied to the facilities master plan. There is clear oversight in place.
If school closure or Mac folks have an axe to grind, this is not the election to make that point. Wait until 2007, sit on the Supt. search committee, recruit candidates or run yourselves. Don't punish our students and staff needlessly. Vote Yes on 3A. It's an equitable and reasonable solution to our crumbling schools.
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