School Board to explore possible bond issue

At their April 26 meeting, the Tehachapi School Board unanimously approved the final contract with VIA Heart Foundation to supply the district with 21 AED units and to provide the oversight and maintenance of the units. The final cost of the units is $26,585 with an annual maintenance fee of $4,200. Money will also be set aside to provide for replacement at

the end of ten years. The district was able to secure safety credit funds for the initial purchase so no money will come out of the General Fund. P.E. teacher and coach Ryan Grimes and his wife Kim, who originally brought the project before the board, have volunteered to plan an annual fundraiser to finance the yearly maintenance fees.

Nick Heinlein, Chief Administrator ofBusiness Services, gave a Facilities Master Plan Update highlighting the projects

where progress has been made and any items that have been added to the needs of each of the area schools and offices. The estimated costs of the “wish list” of construction projects remains at a little over $75,000,000, essentially unchanged from the 2014 Master Plan. When soft costs, contingency and inflation figures are added, the amount needed becomes $102,000,000. Mr Heinliein acknowledged that the list contains far more that can currently be addressed.

Last October, the board approved a contract with Godbe Research to conduct a random sample of registered voters and

get a feel for their attitudes regarding a potential bond measure to finance some of the major facilities projects.

Bryan Godbe, president of Godbe Research, presented the results of the survey that was conducted from January

5-17 by phone and internet. Questions revolved around community opinions of district management as well as classroom and facilities conditions. Other questions explored what the respondents felt was a reasonable bond request. According to Mr. Godbe the results of the survey showed that about 57% of the respondents would

support a bond measure of approximately $41,000,000 with an additional 10% currently unsure. Most important to the respondents was local control of the funds and independent oversight. Godbe warned that it would not be a “slam dunk”.

Nick Heinlein told the board that when all potential funding sources are considered (including a bond measure passage), they could total as much as $57,000,000 which would put a big dent in the district needs. It was decided that the issue of a bond measure will be further discussed at the May 24 meeting.