After discussing the amount and projected scope of the proposed general obligation bond, Madera Unified School District's board of trustees voted Tuesday to adopt the resolution, placing the bond on the November ballot.
"I wanted to make note that this is the second phase of the work started in 2002 and to thank the board (for making it happen)," Superintendent Larry Risinger said. "This is historic."
By agreeing to seek alternative funding for the aquatics center at Madera South High School, the board was able to reduce the dollar amount from the $40 million proposed bond to $32.5 million.
Risinger said the board will investigate financing options with the Madera County Redevelopment agency and a certificate of participation bond can be issued against the general fund and paid back by the district over several years.
Kelly Porterfield, associate superintendent of business and operations, said there may be some 2002 bond money left that can be used for the project, however he won't know how much until completion of the project. Although there are restrictions on the money, Porterfield reported it can be used for "high priority projects" as determined by the board.
Discussion on the needs for the pool at Madera High School sparked debate as to whether the words "renovate and replace" are more accurate that "renovate and repair" because the entire infrastructure that was originally place in 1975 will have to be eliminated as well as the generation plant. Construction on the pool is needed to meet California Interscholastic Federation legality requirements.
Porterfield ended the debate by saying that he didn't want to turn this bond into a "Pool Bond" because the pool is only a small part of the planned construction. Pressed for details of the plans for the MHS pool he responded, "I'm not prepared to go into great detail on the pool at this time."
He did however indicate that the design approval process takes between 9 to 12 months and his goal is for construction to begin in one year.
"Swimming issues will be considered," Risinger added. "There will not be construction on both pools at the same time."
Trustee Robert Garibay said he would like to see the entire $32.5 million used before other revenue sources are used. Porterfield, who is the official spokesman for the bond, responded that all other sources of funding were considered when factoring how much of a bond was needed, including funds from the proposed State Construction Bond slated for the November ballot.
According to Public Information Officer Jake Bragioner, calculations for the bond included 40 percent funding from the state bond.
"If MUSD's general obligation bond passes but the state bond does not, there would be an effect, albeit an indirect one," Bragioner said. "The ability for the state to distribute matching funds to school districts for new construction projects would decrease should their bond not pass. It was partly through state matching funds that we were able to leverage our $46 million bond in 2002 into $134 million."
Porterfield provided a handout showing that if the MUSD bond does not pass the construction needed to alleviate overcrowding and accommodate anticipated growth will leave the district with more than a $21 million deficit by June of 2008.
If passed, the $32.5 million will be paid to the district at $15.2 million in March 2007 and the balance of $17.3 million in August 2009 with a level pattern of annual tax at $32.51 to $32.83 per $100,000 of property valuation.
The average annual future assessed valuation growth is estimated at 10 percent for the 2006-07 school year, 8 percent for 2007-08, 6 percent in 2008-09, 5 percent the following year and 4.5 percent thereafter.
A privately funded citizen's bond committee, co-chaired by Ron Dominici and Gary Savanda, has been formed and fundraising for the bond campaign has begun.
According to the timeline for the campaign, July and August are scheduled for mostly behind the scenes footwork. They will be spent designing logos, handouts, signs, websites, committees and budgets, filing the necessary paperwork, recruiting volunteers and endorsements, and general organization.
The campaign will be underway in Sept., and Oct. That is when signs will be posted, media oureach will get underway and residents will receive mailings and phone calls.
The priority list for the proposed 2006 bond is to purchase property and construct Parkwood Elementary School, then purchase property and construct a second elementary school, followed by a third high school. Then there are plans to renovate Mountain Vista School. MHS pool renovations are slated last.
The priority listings are subject to change and district officials say the projects will be completed in the order that best utilizes local and state matching funds and relieves overcrowding.
The next MUSD board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8 at the district office on Howard Road
