Proposed district bond measure effectively combats overcrowding

Despite the dire predictions of recent state budget deficits, students have seen relatively few changes to the school’s programs. For this, the student body is lucky.

The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District has worked hard to keep students from feeling the impacts that so many other schools have experienced.

But over the next 10 years, enrollment in the district will grow by 900 students, which exceeds the current capacity of the district. Overcrowding means that the student body could very well face the kinds of problems that the district has worked so hard to avoid, including increased class sizes and a reduction in the quality of school programs.

The district is working to introduce a bond measure that would solve the overcrowding problem as well as create long-term improvements for school facilities. The Board of Trustees met on Monday, March 8 to decide if the bond would be on the June ballot. As of press time, the Board was expected to vote in favor of putting the bond on the ballot.

The success of this bond measure—and thus the quality of education in the school district—will be dependent on receiving 55 percent approval from voters in June.

Every student at the school knows the importance of small class sizes, science labs and up-to-date safety systems—all things that might be sacrificed if the district were to become overcrowded. Even if not all students are yet able to vote, they must take it upon themselves to educate others as to why it is so important that the bond measure pass.

It is understandable that voters might be daunted by the prospect of paying more taxes during a recession. The wording of the bond measure, however, means that there is no increase for taxpayers; the bond simply extends the term of the current tax while leaving the annual rate unchanged.

Importantly, the measure addresses the huge influx of students that the district is expecting, specifically through the addition of several new classrooms. Also significant, however, is the fact that the bond would confer other long-term benefits to the school. Voters, for instance, strongly support allocation of funds to improvements in science labs and equipment.

The measure is also environmentally friendly in the long run. Renovations, which would likely begin next year, might include solar panels, improvements in lighting and other “green” options. Not only would the district save huge amounts of money in the long run, but it could also qualify for matching funds from the government, enhancing the long-term benefits conferred to the school.

An overcrowded district would put a huge strain on both LAHS and sister school Mountain View High. The bond measure is an effective strategy to solve the overcrowding problem while also encouraging long-term savings.