League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Sonoma County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure K Bond Forestville Union School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 2,104 / 66.1% Yes votes ...... 1,079 / 33.9% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure K

Arguments Against Measure K

Our schools are the most important asset in our community and should be our number one priority. From higher achieving students, to training for future jobs, to greater neighborhood safety, quality schools make a difference. While our teachers and staff do their best in educating our children, many classrooms and school facilities in the Forestville Union School District are outdated and inadequate to provide students with the school facilities they need to succeed. Our students need your Yes vote on Measure K! While our facilities have been well maintained, our classrooms and facilities do not meet 21st century education and technology standards. A local school improvement measure would allow the District to finish its master facility plan and improve the quality of education provided to local students. Therefore, we must invest in our school so it meets today's safety, technological, and educational standards. If passed, Measure K will provide funding to make critical facility improvements at Forestville school by: Making health, safety and handicapped accessibility improvements; Replacing outdated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; Improving energy efficiency, including replacing outdated windows and lighting; Replacing outdated play structures and improving playground and play field areas; and Upgrading electrical systems. Measure K makes financial sense and protects taxpayers. By law, spending must be reviewed and annually audited by an independent citizens' oversight committee; and all bond funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the state. In addition, funds can only be spent to improve our local elementary school, not for teacher salaries. Measure K upgrades and renovates old and inadequate classrooms, improves the education of local students, and maintains the quality of our community. That's something we can all support. Please join us and vote Yes on Measure K! s/ Mike Reilly Former Board Member s/ Raynetta James Former AAA Council Member s/ Barry Aldridge Community Member FORESTVILLE PLANNING ASSOCIATION s/ Max Broome, President FORESTVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE s/ Earl Stephens, President Rebuttal to Arguments For The importance of education is not what's at issue here. The Sonoma County Taxpayers' Association supports public education, but we think taxpayers have a right to expect school officials to use taxpayer provided resources prudently and efficiently. This bond measure does neither. If bond proceeds fund energy efficiency installations that help reduce energy bills, and those savings are not used to repay the bonds, those savings will be used to create more money available for the school's general funds. Since 80% of general fund budgets typically pay for salaries, the bond proceeds will be used to support higher salaries. One of the stated uses of bond proceeds is technology upgrades and equipment. With the rapid pace of technological development most technology equipment has a short useful life before its out dated. Even being generous and assuming a five year life, taxpayers will be paying for these improvements long after they have been retired to the landfill. Issuance of bonds usually is sign of failure of the district to provide a financial plan to maintain and replace aging buildings. Prudent school officials will have set aside funds in a reserve so that they will have the money to upgrade building systems and replace things like roofs. Taxpayers should not reward those officials who have allocated their entire budget to higher salaries, failing to set aside reserves for predictable maintenance/replacement needs. SONOMA COUNTY TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION s/ Jack Atkin, President s/ Fred Levin, Executive Director

We suggest taxpayers start by asking why the Forestville Union School District needs to borrow money and raise taxes to perform predictable maintenance and replacement of major building components. When a school district proposes a bond it's usually a sign of failure to plan adequately and to prudently manage the finances of the District. The fact that a roof and other major building components do not last forever should surprise no one. Providing for a sound roof, functioning heating system and other elements of the physical plant should be every bit as much a part of the annual budgeting as staff salaries and utility bills. Because roofs are not replaced every year, a portion of the replacement cost should be placed in a dedicated replacement reserve fund each year so that funds will be available when the need does arise. Without an adequately funded reserve only three things can happen, and they are all bad; the District must defer maintenance, take funds from educational programs for building maintenance or raise taxes (issue bonds). The Sonoma County Taxpayers' Association has been and continues to be a strong supporter of public education. However, taxpayers have a right to expect the officials who manage our public schools to be prudent managers of the taxpayer resources accorded them. A District that has not made adequate plans nor maintained a replacement reserve fund, and has to resort to raising taxes has not met this basic requirement for prudent management. This bond proposal is a red flag suggesting the management practices at the Forestville Union School District need to be modified to regain taxpayers' confidence, before they ask for more of our money. We recommend a No vote on Measure K. SONOMA COUNTY TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION s/ Jack Atkin, President s/ Fred Levin, Executive Director Rebuttal to Arguments Against Forestville voters know what is best for our Forestville community. Updated and modern classrooms are essential to meet our community standards in providing an excellent education for all our children. Don't be misled by the argument against Measure K. The district has always been a prudent manager of its finances. Here are the real facts: The district consistently exceeds the state of California requirement to use 3% of annual funding for ongoing facilities maintenance. The district has contributed its share to a co-funded deferred maintenance fund every year while the state has cut its portion 75% and the deferred maintenance fund for major repairs is depleted. The district has facilities dating from the 1930s. No matter how well a facility is maintained, there comes a time when it needs renovation or replacement. The annual per pupil funding, which the District receives, has been near the lowest in the state for the last 30 years. This funding is intended to be used for the day-to-day business of educating children; not the cost of upgrading, modernizing, and repairing facilities. The District has no viable option other than Measure K for facility improvements and to finish all of our modernization projects. Measure K will improve the quality of education by modernizing, repairing, and renovating outdated classrooms, play areas, and facilities. Having access to state of the art technology as well as an upgraded school, gives Forestville students the best chance to succeed. Join us! Vote Yes on Measure K! s/ Ronald C. Abler President, Forestville Union School District s/ MJ Nelson Resident/Teacher FORESTVILLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION s/ Martha Guerra, President s/ Hal Wood Former Board Member s/ Steve Pearson Community Member