latest on CF at 5:13 pm 11-11-08
Yes 3,168 55.35 needs 3148 passing by 20 votes
NO 2,556 44.65
11-04-08 The passing level of CF has moved from 22 vote to 20 votes.
They may have finally passed a bond on the fifth try by a margin of 20 votes with about 80% of voters voting. We can agree the $25 per 100 thousand valuation bond is not too high, as our kids need educational facilities.
In fact, in July I editorialized for this size of bond and the only reason I refused to support CF, is that under CF, the school board can spend all they want on the gymnasium and nothing for education. The gym does not qualify for matching funds. It's highly unlikely there will be any state money available to match for education facilities, since LA Unified projects approved are more than the available state funds.
So what we have to do is convince the Brighter Group to take all of the bond money, except for $1 million to fix the problems at the existing gym, and spend the remaining $12.5 million on educational facilities for the kids.
If they do that, we will all benefit as the bond is reasonable in size and the kids need the facilities for their education. If they instead spend $8 to $12 million on a gym, we need to recall the school board members supporting that waste.
We know the continued history of the waste of educational money on sports has drawn down the performance and the educational quality of Vasquez.
If you want the money spent on educational facilities, then write the superintendent and send us a copy to publish for the rest of the community to read. Dr. Stan Halperin, Superintendent, SHalperin@aadusd.k12.ca.us
But, if the Brighter Group intends to waste a substantial amount of this money on a gym for their sports supporters, I along with other community members will organize a recall of board members and replace them with ones who care about the kids' education.
I PRAY I was wrong and it won't be wasted on a gym and they actually spend it for education.