Is Culver City Ready to vote on a School Bond this November?

While many families' attention is focused on taking time off and enjoying the slow days of summer, a heated debate is going on in cyberspace.  Parents are being urged to sign a petition asking the School Board to 'let them vote' on a School Bond measure this November.  The petition suggests the situation is desperate, that there is broad community support and that the bond is smart and inexpensive.  Faced with such a request, many are signing on to the petition, and are appalled that the Board would hold them back from voting to improve school facilities.

Does this make sense? Could Board members be opposed to improving school facilities? What's wrong with them?

When you start doing a little research into the issue, you start seeing that the situation is not as simple as the petitioners suggest.

It is true that for a bond measure to be put on the ballot, it requires a Board resolution that is supported by 4 out of 5 Board members.  At the last meeting of the Board, three members expressed a variety of concerns which they felt needed to be addressed for a bond campaign to be successful.  In his latest statement, Board Member Silbiger expresses support for the idea of a bond measure, but provides more specifics about what needs to be in place for him to support a board resolution. 

While at this point there isn't a Board meeting scheduled before the deadline (Aug 9), Board President Kathy Paspalis has suggested that she will call one.

In his last statement, the Superintendent seems to understand that the concerns that Board Members have raised need addressing. In this article on Frontline, La Rose states: "To do something this significant, this important, we want people to speak with great confidence, not only about the need but the manner in which we are going to address it."

This statement from La Rose is significant, for it echoes what many know to be true when it comes to bond elections.  

"A school board which is unified on the bond issue is not just important -- it is an absolute must! Board unity is one of the most critical factors determining whether a referendum can pass. Board members should possess the best information available on the district’s needs. If the entire board cannot support the tax issue, then the district finds it very difficult to gain community support." (from "Planning Successful Bond Campaigns")  

So it appears at this point, that the matter is whether a petition can force Board members to be unified.  

While some may quibble with the Board Members reasons for concern, others support their prudent approach. 

One area of concern relates to the impact a bond election this November would have on the reauthorization of the parcel tax next year.  Given that parcel tax measures require a 2/3 majority, this concern is real.  But it's also important because parcel taxes and bond measures are different.  Bond funding cannot be used to support academic programs, such as arts and music programs and reducing class sizes, etc. unlike parcel taxes.  So, it's important to have a balanced approach, to understand very clearly how the two issues will interplay.  

So, in reality, the question is not just about whether Culver City is ready to vote on the School Bond this November, but whether we are prepared to take on both issues in a one year period.