School bond gains early momentum

Local voters appear likely to pass a new $125 million school bond measure, according to polling results presented at last week’s Las Virgenes Unified School District board meeting.

Goodwin Simon Strategic Research conducted a survey of 400 voters within district boundaries from Jan. 10-12 to determine whether a bond measure that would pay for capital improvements at the district’s 15 schools was supported by the community.

Paul Goodwin, co-owner of the research firm, and Jared Boigon of Terry Bonds and Associates, the firm that helped organize the Measure E campaign two years ago, presented the polling results to school board members.

More than 60 percent said that they would likely vote yes on a new bond measure.

If the school board votes to place the measure on the June 2006 ballot, a 55 percent majority will be required to pass. Although the poll demonstrated support for the measure, Goodwin warned against “complacency.”

The poll revealed that if the bond measure passes, citizens want the money spent on new science labs, computers, restrooms, emergency systems, and the replacement of aging trailer classrooms. They also want older schools to be upgraded and overcrowding in classrooms to be addressed.

“Education in the classroom is first and foremost,” Boigon said.

Voters showed less support for water and energy conservation, athletic facilities, a performing arts center, facilities for the disabled, and a new elementary school and extended day kindergarten, which came in as the lowest priority at 48 percent.

Board Member Terilyn Finders said she was surprised that the performing arts center wasn’t a high priority for the community. She said that it might be prudent to rename the project as a community cultural center, since the facility could ultimately be used for the wider community.

Both Agoura and Calabasas High Schools want a performing arts center, which are expected to cost about $12 million apiece.

If the bond passes, district officials also would like to upgrade and replace classroom technology.

Goodwin said a key factor for passing the bond measure would be to convince voters that the funds would be spent on local schools, and the state could not usurp the money for its budget shortfalls. Voters also want an independent oversight committee to be created to oversee how the funds are spent, Goodwin said.

Voters identified lack of funding and overcrowding as the most serious problems facing the district.

Lindero Canyon Middle School will be the next school to be expanded and upgraded. State-of-the-art science classrooms similar to those at A.E. Wright Middle School and A.C. Stelle Middle School will be included in the Lindero expansion.

Donald Zimring, the district’s deputy superintendent, said the public supports a new bond.

“Clearly we’ve been given that message,” Zimring said.

Measure R funds, a $93 million bond measure passed by voters in 1997, are nearly spent. The new bond measure would be placed before voters on the June ballot.

A final decision on whether a bond measure will be placed on the ballot will be made at the Feb. 7 school board meeting.

Seventy-three percent of the voters rated the district’s job performance as either excellent or good.