Measure G Bond Passes

MEASURE

PASSES

The behind-the-scenes of the construction on campus

Voters of the Fremont Union High School District passed Measure G on June 7, authorizing the district to sell $275 million in bonds to pay for campus renovations and construction district wide.

Measure G allocates funding to update decades-old facilities, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems and classroom lighting. Additional renovations could include a new robotics center for each school, art and music rooms and updated libraries.

“It’s a lot of energy-saving upgrades,” said CHS Vice Principal Steven Puccinelli, “It’s mostly the HVAC system and lighting which are done in a much more energy efficient way, [saving] money and the environment.”

Cupertino High School is no stranger to construction. Measure G is the latest of a series of construction bond measures approved by district voters in recent years. Money from the bonds is earmarked for facilities improvements at the district’s five high schools.

“We still have ongoing needs beyond what we were able to complete with the previous bond measures, and having a new bond will allow us to complete more classroom modernizations,” Puccinelli said. In 2018 the passage of Measure CC, financed about half the renovations the district aimed to achieve. Measure G supplies new funds to complete the remaining renovations. The district will distribute the $275 million over the next three decades at an annual rate of 18.2 million. Funds will come from property tax assessments of $0.015 per $100 in assessed value for every parcel of land within the district until 2052. “There are still projects from CC that are still happening and going to continue to happen into next year. While at the same time, we’re able to start our first projects with Measure G,” Puccinelli said. Acquiring funds is the first step in an ongoing process. Design and projects for Measure G will follow in later years. In the last decade, the district has implemented three bond measures: Measure K of 2014, which allotted $294 million and Measure CC for $275 million in 2018 and Measure G last June. Taxpayer advocates have criticized the repeated usage of bond measures by the district. Mark Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers’ Association, said bond measures take decades to pay off. Some residents find acquiring funds from tax- es disagreeable, believing the district should instead

“HOPEFULLY, WE CAN SEE THOSE POSITIVES OUTWEIGH THE NEGATIVES. ” STEVEN PUCCINELLI

im-

prove

budget manage- ment.

In an in- terview with Silicon Valley Voice, FUHSD Superintendent Graham Clark said implementing smaller bonds every few years is purposeful and tax efficient.

“[...] Our thought is, let’s just approve as much for the work that we can do in a five to six to seven-year time span as opposed to do a real large bond, a lot of money and then not use it for years and years and years,” said Clark. This method has existed since the early 2000s for all previous district bond measures. FUHSD believes this is productive and beneficial for community residents and the schools.

Cupertino faculty have faced the consequences of construction. Some teachers have been forced into classrooms that may not be the best suited space for their course, while others are sharing classrooms.

“[Construction] caused some disruption to classes that we didn’t anticipate or plan on happening. [...] But hopefully, it’s been as smooth as it can,” Puccinelli said, “We talk about it and try to come up with different solutions. And the construction company has been really great about accommodating those things.” Cupertino hopes to finish the projects of Measure CC soon and plan accordingly for Measure G’s projects.

Students have also faced negative drawbacks of construction during school days. Said student Mira Panigrahy, “I feel like it’s a bit annoying having to walk around construction and fences, and especially with our classes [having] to shift because of the classes that we can’t use.” With teacher displacement, students have had to adapt as well, shifting classrooms and their class structures.

“Last year, [...] we had to shift in the middle of the year [...] And that was probably really annoying for me because that other classroom felt really crowded together,” Panigrahy said.

While the school tried to handle the drawbacks students and teachers face, the board could make better efforts to inform students. Many students are unaware of Measure G and the reasons for construction. “I feel like they should [...] inform the students and tell them what they’re doing [...] because I feel like this campus is for the students,” Panigrahy said. As construction finishes in the coming months, students and faculty can look forward to a more spacious and calmer campus. Upgraded HVAC systems and classrooms can help days run more smoothly, and other updates will be helpful for safety.

Said Puccinelli, “Hopefully, we can see those positives outweigh the negatives” NEWS | 7