Oak Park school bond back on the table

With school budget cutbacks looming, the Oak Park Board of Education faces a dilemma of how to fund much-needed repairs to the district's aging buildings and classrooms.

A facilities bond measure is being considered for the November ballot, but before a decision is made on how much to fund and what the revenue should pay for, the school board wants to hear from the community. A public comment meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tues., July 1 at the Oak Park Library.

The district will gauge public sentiment in view of the fact that two earlier bond measures failed in 2006. This November, when the vote would be taken, is also a time when the rates will be going up on an existing 1978 bond.

The possibility of declining enrollment will be a factor when the bond is discussed.

The new bond would pay for building modernization, unlike the recently passed Measure C parcel tax, which was geared toward saving programs and services.

The board must meet a July 14 Ventura County deadline to put the bond measure on the November ballot, or it must wait until 2010. If the district waits, the costs and repairs could be greater.

"It's a complex piece of education to get across in a very short time," said Board President Cindy Vinson.

Replacement and repair

Several bond scenarios are possible ranging from $25 million to $29 million, which translates into a homeowner cost of between $31 and $45 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

Boardmembers differ as to which projects are most needed.

Should the aging special education portables at Oak Park High School, for example, be replaced? Should the Medea Creek Middle School and Oak Park High deteriorating locker rooms be refurbished? Are the seismic issues at Brookside Elementary more important? And what about air conditioning the Medea Creek and Oak Park High gyms?

A committee of community members, administrators and teachers were joined by a consultant and researched and developed a list of the most pressing projects at each of the district's six schools. Work included updating fire and safety systems, fixing sidewalks, roofs and parking lots, and repairing or replacing heating ventilation and air conditioning units.

"This list falls woefully short of the things we would like to do for the district," said Peter Kristensen, facilities committee chair. "These are just the basic things that must be done."

In 2006 voters rejected a pair of bond measures that sought a combined $160. Critics charged the district with attempting unnecessary work in light of a decreasing student population.

The new bond measure, which would require a 55 percent majority to pass, is a pared down version of the first two and focuses only on urgent needs, district officials say.

Bond measure spike

Boardmembers expressed concern about seeking the new bond in November, the same month residents receive their annual tax bill. This year's bill will include a one-year spike from a 1978, $40 million bond. The increase will bring the rate to $193 per $100,000 of assessed value for 2009, then will drop to $89 in 2010, decreasing annually until it reaches $50 in 2017, the final year.

The new bond measure would not take effect until the year after the spike, Superintendent Tony Knight said.

Measure C helped

Passed by voters on June 3, Measure C renewed a 2004 parcel tax to fund teachers and programs. The $197 per household per year tax will generate about $1 million annually for eight years for schools, helping preserve what's already in place.

After Measure C passed, 31 of 37 teachers and staff who received layoff notices in March were reinstated, and the elementary music program, science specialist, and kindergarten aides were retained. A part-time dance teacher at Oak Park High and a part-time nurse were not rehired, however.

Teachers have until the end of the month to inform the school district about their status. If some don't return, the four remaining pink slipped elementary school teachers will be reinstated, said Cliff Moore, district assistant superintendent for human resources.

Despite the renewed parcel tax, other slashes were made in order to close a $1.7-million budget gap caused by state cuts in funding and declining enrollment. They include fewer sections of core classes being offered at Oak Park High and several courses being dropped altogether including AP Environmental Science, Poetry, Creative Writing and Chinese I.

Other costsaving measures included reducing the school district lawn mowing to every other week.

Issues of enrollment

Interdistrict transfers are on the rise, according to Superintendent Tony Knight, but overall enrollment is down by about 150 students. The exception is the incoming ninth grade which is rising by 35 students, making the 360-student freshman class the largest in district history. The increase is split between Oak Park residents and out-of-district transfers, Knight said.

"Everything hinges on our student numbers," said the school board's Mary Rees. "It's hard to know where we're going to be at a few years from now."

Regardless of enrollment the repairs must be done, said Kristensen, who feels the proposed facility plans are a "very reasonable and measured response."

"The economy has changed. I think there are valid concerns," Kristensen said. "We've got to get this done."