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Lawmakers
and onlookers remain wary of last-minute wrangling on statutory language but
expressed confidence that new school bond construction will win voter approval
in November.
“This is one of the things in
government that makes you feel good,’’ said Assemblymember Robert
Hertzberg, the Speaker Emeritus. “This is going to make a difference, not
just in building schools but building communities.”
Senator Jack O’Connell, the Democratic nominee for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, said that since passage of
Proposition 39 in 2000 lowered the minimum standard of voter approval of
school bond measures from two-thirds to 55 percent of votes cast, 29 out of 29
school bond measures had been successful.
“It doesn’t get any better
than that,” O’Connell said. On March 5, recent trends continued. California voters approved 63 of 71 school bond
measures before them, including 50 bond measures for K-12 school construction and 13 bond
measures for community college districts.
O'Connell said
studies have linked new and improved school facilities to improved test scores
and deceased absenteeism.
Lawmakers revealed their thinking at the forum. Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg
(D-Los Angeles), member of the Conference Committee negotiating
the bond legislation, said the intent of the bond is twofold: addressing critically
overcrowded schools and green-lighting school construction and modernization
projects already in the pipeline.
This approach will
infuse overcrowded schools with funding and stimulate the economy. At the same
time it won't penalize school districts with projects that qualified for
funding under last year’s now-defunct “first-come, first-served” school
construction and modernization policy at the State Allocation Board.
Goldberg emphasized the “jobs,
housing, schools, community connection” and reminded the audience that
top-down reform is only half the story.
“If you really care [about Smart
Growth], it’s going to have to happen on the local zoning levels. Smart
Growth can be a buzzword for Not in My Back Yard … Smart Growth includes
schools, parks, open space and libraries. If we just say Smart Growth is jobs
and housing, and leave out other things, we’re creating an unlivable
community.”
Senator Dede Alpert (D-San Diego),
chair of the conference committee, said an Assembly-Senate conference committee would remain open in order to
facilitate communication between the two legislative houses and consider new
ideas as they arise.
The bond proposals are not yet set
in stone, but the current plan calls for a $13 billion bond measure on the
November 2002 ballot, followed by a $12 billion measure on the March, 2004
ballot, according to Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg and other electeds.
Negotiations are also under way for a 2006 school construction bond.
For the first time
in history, one hundred million in "carve out" funding for joint-use
projects and other land use efficiencies is included in the proposed bond
measures. "This is a bi-partisan initiative with support on both sides of
the aisle," said Assemblyman Russ Bogh, (R-Yucaipa)
Furthermore, legislation
introduced recently by Hertzberg (AB 2588) would require the state Department
of General Services to aid school districts and local agencies in the
organization and preparation of joint-use projects. The bill would also allow
the State Allocation Board to use 1 percent of its allotment toward joint-use
projects, an idea Hertzberg calls “make it happen money.” Finally, the
bill would create a six-member Collaborative School Facilities Implementation
Board to examine best practices for joint-use projects and recommend ways to
speed projects off the drawing board. The board may ask for powers similar to
the state Board of Education, which has the discretion to waive sections and
statutes in the state Education Code.
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