Tuesday, October 14, 2014 GuestCommentary


By By Dr. Alexia L. Deligianni-Brydges


Measure K: setting


the community up for disappointment


OUSD has voted to place a


$296 million bond on the Novem- ber ballot. Bonds are debt instru- ments that are paid for by raising property taxes. This would be the largest property tax bond requested by a school district in Orange County’s history. It is the first of a series of bonds


the school board has been talking about eventually placing on the ballot. The bond language states that, “basic repairs to our schools are needed.” However, the plans that the architects presented to the communities and at the board


By Peter Jacklin I must begin by saying that


a good education is one of the most valuable possessions one can have. That said, I am not a fan of public education for many reasons, some of which I will ex- press here. The government continues to


gouge taxpayers over education. Large promises of noble advanc- es are made. Few changes in the public education system benefit our children. OUSD’s Measure K is no exception. It promises high and delivers low. The alleged $296 million for


renovating our four existing high schools is a massive underesti- mation of the project’s costs. It’s likely to cost three to four times more.


meetings in February and March are far from “basic.” The plans the architects showed us, and the community now expects, are ex- tensive and include a complete remodel of each high school cam- pus, including many new build- ings, new aquatic facilities and theaters. However, the more real- istic plans the architects presented just one month before the election were a disappointment. For $296 million the plans did not even in- clude all new restrooms. When I asked each of the ar- chitect firms approximately how


Measure KO’s the public Assuming the $296 million es-


timate is correct, that funding is equivalent to one year’s operating expenses for the school system. Would any business do this? Good teachers make good


education. School bonds do not. More funding needs to go to teachers’ tools, not to developers, lawyers and contractors. Enough is enough. School bonds raise property


values? If this were so abundantly clear, the sky should be the limit on school bonds. OUSD man- agement should have floated the bonds some time ago and every year thereafter. Why didn’t they? Because the premise is false, and they know it. Despite the cocka- mamie sales pitch that every dol- lar of bond debt creates a huge increase in property values, the


Foothills Sentry


much it would cost for the full remodel that they presented in their renderings, they each said, “about $200 million.” That’s a total of $800 million that property owners would have to cover. And it’s just for the four high schools. The board has not even looked at middle schools or elementary schools yet. If passed, the $296 million bond


will cost property owners $39 per $100,000 of assessed home value. If all the bonds needed to raise the $800 million pass, that number would eventually be over $100 per $100,000 of assessed value. The district hired a polling


company to see what the commu- nity is willing to support. Based on the results of the survey, it was recommended that the school dis- trict keep the tax rate for the first bond under $39 per $100,0000. In this way, it has a high likelihood to pass, since voters will see it as “affordable.” Ironically, your tax dollars are used toward marketing this tax increase to convince you into saying "yes." Are you getting the most for your money? For the sake of


truth is elsewhere. Good educa- tion raises property values. Taj Mahals do not. As for the proclaimed oversight


committee, its better name would be the “overlooked committee.” Its only function is to REVIEW spending and report negligence. To whom it will report negli- gence? The school board. The fox will be watching the hen house. For the better part of 10 years,


OUSD management has been setting aside two percent of its operating budget for building maintenance. That’s the minimal amount prescribed by law. Had management been resourceful in its obligation to its students and community, the current situation of ramshackle buildings would be far less. Leopards don’t change their spots. I can expect more of the same when a $296 million windfall hits the bank account.


comparative shopping, I decided to look at our neighbor, Orange Lutheran High School. OLu paid $15,000,000 and added 40,000 square feet to its campus. That amounts to $375 per square foot. In contrast, the cost cited for one OUSD school (based on the mas- ter plan) amounts to about $643 per square foot. Why are taxpay- ers asked to pay so much more per square foot? Follow the money trail. It is im-


portant to note that the organiza- tion established to pass the bond is being funded by the architects who will benefit from it. This in- cludes a $15,000 and $7,000 con- tribution from the architects who submitted the designs for Villa Park and Canyon High Schools. Bond proponents keep empha-


sizing that there will be a citizens’ oversight committee overseeing the bond. However, this commit- tee is only required to meet once a year and has no authority to do anything if the funds are misap- propriated. Bond proponents also claim that this bond will ensure that we “get our fair share of state matching funds.” The problem is


Technology is revamping all


facets of our lives and the way we lead them. I can’t predict how home schooling, online teaching and other educational advances are going to affect how education is delivered. I can predict that technology will change things. Just look at what’s changed in the last decade. In 10 more years it’s reasonable to believe that school facilities, as we know them now, will no longer be needed in the volume that OUSD has them today. It’s not too farfetched to believe that in 30 years we’ll be paying off the debt for school


Two-story home on cul-de-sac with pool. 4 bedrooms, 3.75 baths 2,683 sq ft. with family room. Open floor plan.


$599,999


Page 13


that the state is out of moderniza- tion funds. There are no state matching funds. Measure K supporters will say


that there is absolutely no money for upgrades. However, at its September meeting, OUSD ap- proved spending $565,000 of an estate gift to Orange High School on a PRIDE positive discipline recognition program and mini grants, instead of using the mon- ey to remodel the bathrooms or cafeteria. Loopholes in the resolution


state that “the listed projects at each high school will be complet- ed as needed” and “based on the final cost of each project, certain of the projects described above may be delayed or may not be completed.” This is something the voters should take into con- sideration when agreeing to addi- tional property taxes for the next 30-plus years. Dr. Deligianni-Brydges is vice


president of the OUSD Board of Education. The opinions ex- pressed here are hers alone and do not represent the board as a whole.


facilities that were long ago torn down by developers. There is no doubt that our chil-


dren need education. There is no doubt that OUSD schools need repair. There is plenty of doubt among plenty of people that a $296 million capital expenditure is the right thing to do at this time. Our situation needs a 21st century vision of education. Within that vision, tell me how school facili- ties will fit. I stand on that side and I urge a “no” vote on Mea- sure K. Peter Jacklin lives in Orange


Park Acres. 1551 E. San Alto Place, Orange


Mike and Andrea Buckley RE/MAX OCE 714-376-3838


#01301133 Realestatesocal@gmail.com


17561 E. 17th Street Tustin, CA 92780 www.RealEstateBuckley.com


ARE YOU A


SAFER DRIVER? A RESPONSIBLE HOME OWNER?


Ask about better insurance protection through the AARP® Auto & Homeowners InsuranceProgram from The Hartford – nowavailable from your local Hartford independent agent.


• Average savings of $375* for drivers who switch. • “Bundling” Discounts when you insure your home and cars together.


• Personalized service from our convenient, local office.


To request your free, no-obligation quote, call or stop by TODAY!


(714) 282-7844 Chuck Tuggle


Pacific Hills Insurance Agency 5557 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd. Suite # 203 Anaheim Hills, CA 92807 chuck@pacifichillsins.com CA License# OE44208


108320


Savings amounts arebased on information fromTheHartford’sAARP Auto InsuranceAutoInsuranceProgramcustomer who became new autoinsurancepolicyholders between 7/1/11 and 6/30/12 through the traditional AARP Auto InsuranceProgram and provided data regarding their savings.Authorized agents can also provide coverage under this Program. Your savings may vary. TheAARP Automobile&Homeowners InsuranceProgram fromTheHartfordisunderwritten by HartfordFireInsurance Companyand its affiliates, One HartfordPlaza, HartfordCT06155. CA license number 5152.InWashington, the Auto Programisunderwritten byTrumbull InsuranceCompany.TheHome Programisunderwritten by HartfordUnderwriters InsuranceCompany. AARP does not employorendorse agents or brokers.AARP and its affiliatesare notinsurers.Paid endorsement. TheHartfordpaysroyaltyfees to AARP forthe use of its intellectual property.These fees areused forthe general purposes of AARP.AARP membership is required forProgram eligibilityinmost states. Applicants are individually underwritten and some maynot qualify.Specific features,credits,and discounts mayvaryand maynot be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. You have the option of purchasing apolicydirectly from TheHartford. Your price, however, could vary,and youwill not have the advice, counsel or services of your independent agent. 1InTexas,the Auto Programisunderwritten by Southern County Mutual InsuranceCompany, through Hartford of Texas General Agency, Inc. HartfordFireInsuranceCompanyand its affiliatesare not financially responsible forinsuranceproducts underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual InsuranceCompany. TheHome Program is underwritten byTwin City Fire Insurance Company


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24