Future bond?

Given this week’s economic news, I thought I’d ask your thoughts on an important financial issue facing the district. As many of you know, our school board will be discussing the need for another bond issue in the next few months.

We’ve been open with stakeholders in the past about our plans to ask for a new bond about every three years. You approved bonds in 2000, 2003 and 2006. Adhering to that plan would mean placing a new bond request on the April 2009 ballot, a decision which must be made no later than January.

With more than 50 school buildings, we will always have facility needs. But as members of this community, we have to balance our needs with those of our stakeholders. Should we keep to our plan and request a tax increase in 2009? How would it affect you and your family? Is it fair to delay our bond request and make students in the remaining 25 percent of buildings wait for air conditioning?

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.