School Bond Proposal Set for Board Review

A tax proposal that would cost the average household about $15 a year and would be used to improve classroom technology is scheduled for a review by the school board tonight.

Faced with overcrowding and badly needed repairs at some schools, trustees of the Santa Ana Unified School District appointed a committee in June to gauge public support for a bond measure. The district estimates that it needs more than $125 million to expand and modernize its schools.

However, a study commissioned by the volunteer committee of district officials, parents and business representatives indicated support for only a $32-million bond measure to upgrade classroom technology.

Only about half of the 400 respondents to the telephone survey favored a bond measure to pay for new school construction, officials said.

School board members will review the committee’s recommendation tonight but are not scheduled to vote on it yet.

If approved by Feb. 2, the bond measure could be placed on the ballot in June. Passage would require approval of two-thirds of the city’s voters.

If the bond measure is the only item on the June ballot, the district would pay $31,000 to cover the costs of the election, said Mike Vail, the district’s senior director of facilities.