Board of Ed to Put $270m School Bond Before Voters

The Glendale Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday to put a school bond before voters in April that could generate $270 million for the Glendale Unified School District. If voters approve, the General Obligation (or "G.O.") bond would guarantee local school funding in a time when state budget cuts are looming due to the near $20 billion deficit.

It would also continue a property tax levy that residents are already paying for Measure K, a school bond that was approved in 1997. If approved, the new bond would cost taxpayers $46.03 per year per $100,000 of their assessed value. This is the same amount that taxpayers have been paying for Measure K, and it would not increase.

"This might be one of the most important decisions the board makes," said Superintendent Dr. Richard Sheehan. 

The bond money would continue facility upgrades where Measure K left off. It is seen as the second phase of school improvements and would include upgrades to classroom computers and technology and facility renovations. It would also require an independent oversight committee, according to a document released by the GUSD.

Last night's meeting brought out local teachers and residents in support of the bond, including Kevin Hoang, a math teacher at . Hoang spoke about the technology he would like to see brought into his classroom with the bond money, including Smartboards, faster Internet, a speaker system,and the ability to mount his LCD projector.

"With the [bond money], we could help students learn, be more engaged and become better students," Hoang said.

Tami Carlson, president of the Glendale Teachers Association, is concerned that the teachers will have no say in where or how the bond money is spent. Carlson said the group has "not taken a stance" on the bond.

"We really need to talk about the oversight of this money and who is going to be involved in making the decisions on how it's spent and where it's spent, so that it goes to the children, in the classroom, for the things that the teachers have spoken so eloquently about tonight that they need … to engage their students. We have no voice in that," said Carlson.

"Who makes the decision of where the money goes?" said Carlson. "Obviously I don't know, but I know that it's not teachers."

Money generated from the bond would stay within Glendale Unified School District and could not be taken away by the state.

"State budget cuts are one of the things that propelled us down this road," said Eva Lueck, Chief Financial Officer of the GUSD. "The state doesn't have adequate funds to fund us."

If approved, $54 million of the bond money would be available for the start of the 2011-'12 school year.

Voters will see the proposed school bond on the April 5, 2011 General Municipal Election ballot.

To read more about the G.O. bond,

This article was updated at 12:14 p.m. to include election information and the attached document.