Bond measure criticized

Before voting on bond measure H6, consider the following:

The amount of $71.1 million appears to be excessive. The new construction is questionable when the student population is declining, an ongoing expectation.

+The bond measure is not about repair.

Over 50 percent is designated for new construction, over 40 percent is designated for upgrades and less than 10 percent is designated for repairs.

+The bond measure may not increase taxes, but it extends the time we will be paying them.The $71.1 million will be added to the current bond measure and extend payments to the year 2037.

+There is no published plan to resolve any financial issues after year 2010. H6 will put the OPUSD at or near its maximum allowed indebtedness.

The $71.1 million is programmed to be spent by 2010. But what are the district's needs for the 27 years between 2010 and 2037?

Will this "problem" be left for a new administrator and board to resolve?

+H6 places a very limited control over spending.

There is no guarantee that all or any designated project will be completed or that any deleted project could be reinstated. The expenditure of these funds is solely at the discretion of the designers of the bond measure, the school board.

+Resolving the declining student population by inter-district transfers is questionable.

This school year, almost 16 percent of the students are interdistrict transfers. This equates on average to 18 additional teachers and 18 classrooms. This should be enough to retire all temporary classrooms.

The new construction calls for 10 new classrooms and the 16 percent increase would also impact the administrative staff.

Take what the state returns for each student and add what Oak Park homeowners are paying on current/future bond measures, it becomes apparent that transfer students are not paying a fair share of the total cost of their education.

Are Oak Park students given preference over transfers in their need for specific classes?

What is the impact of transporting transfers on congestion, pollution, and safety on our streets and around schools?

Take a very close look at what the total long-term impact of bond measure H6 will have on Oak Park. Please vote no on H6. Robert Suber Oak Park