The school district has done an excellent job managing the money it received from previous bonds.  With the 2006 Measure B, the buildings are coming in on time, under budget and will positively impact our students for decades to come.  In addition, the district has leveraged the funds to obtain $60 million more in state matching funds that would have gone to other school districts if San Leandro had never enacted local bonds. When the community will get value for a new tax or bond, I am glad to support the measure.

As background, on July 13, 2010, the San Leandro school district held a workshop on a new bond measure for the November 2010 ballot.  The school board decided to proceed with a $50 million bond which would cost property owners $25 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value.  If your house is assessed at $300,000, you would pay an additional $75 a year on your property tax bill.

What will be the project list of the new bond?  That has not yet been decided.  However, it’s clear that modernization of Burrell Field and the other fields next to it will be part on the bond and the largest item, costing about $16 million.  Renovation of the high school swimming pool will also be included, at a cost of $6 million.

Martin Capron, president of the San Leandro Sports Foundation, has stated the sports complex at Burrell Field could be transformed into a football field suitable for regional playoff games, where soccer, lacrosse and rugby can also be played.  New softball and baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, concession stands and aluminum bleachers are being considered as part of the modernization effort.

I spoke at July 13th the meeting in favor of both of these items as well as upgrading the John Muir Middle School fields to bring them up to the same standard as Bancroft Middle School, along with upgrades to other athletic fields in the district.  I also spoke in favor of installing solar panels or undertaking other conservation measures at school sites to reduce the district’s utility bill, which would free up money for student programs.  I was the only candidate for mayor that spoke at the meeting in favor of the new bond measure.

On Tuesday, July 20th, the school board approved the language for the new bond and voted to place the measure on the November ballot.  I again was the only candidate for mayor to speak in favor of the measure.

I spoke Tuesday night at the school board meeting in support of the new bond. The school district has done an excellent job managing the money it received from previous bonds. With the 2006 Measure B, the buildings are coming in on time, under budget and will positively impact our
students for decades to come. Further,… the school district has leveraged the funds to obtain $60 million more in state matching funds that would have gone to other school
districts if San Leandro had never enacted local bonds. When the
community will get value for a new tax or bond, I am glad to support
the measure.