Eureka school bonds to help modernize classrooms
By Sheldon J. Reber, director of school and community relations
Spring 2002

On March 5 voters in the Eureka Unified District approved two school bond measures that will dramatically improve student learning conditions.

Measure S, the middle and high schools improvement bond, passed with 62% voter approval. Measure T, the elementary schools improvement bond, garnered 64%. The bonds were under Proposition 39 provisions and needed 55% voter approval to pass. The last school bond measure put before Eureka voters paid for the construction of Winship and Zane Junior Highs and appeared on the ballot in 1963.

In a letter to staff, district superintendent Jim Scott thanked the community for its support of the school bonds. “On behalf of the governing board and the children of Eureka City Schools, thank you for making this historic moment a reality. With Measures S and T, our learning environment for students and staff will be safer. Our students will learn, teachers will teach, and staff will support in a modernized, more contemporary environment. We will join with our community in a greater sense of pride for the excellence that is Eureka City Schools.”

Scott also pointed out what the community can expect in the immediate future. “Now the real work begins. Over the next nine months we will begin consulting with architects and various experts in determining where and when to begin the facility improvement process. Construction will bring some inconveniences, but it will be well worth the effort. Staff will be consulted in the drawing of plans and give valuable input regarding the scope of many projects.”

Based on Proposition 39’s strict accountability measures, Eureka’s governing board will review applications and appoint a Citizens’ Oversight Committee at its May 15 meeting. The nine-member Committee will include members active in a business organization, a senior citizen’s organization, a taxpayer’s organization, four parents, and two members at large. The Committee will advise the governing board and inform the public regarding bond construction projects and make recommendations regarding project priority and scheduling.

According to Jerry Johnson, the district’s Chief Business Official, “We’ll be meeting with staff and our consultant in April to determine the process, the timeline, logistics, and prioritizations of all projects.”

Completing modernization projects presents a challenge when students are in classrooms. “We’ll have to determine whether we’ll accomplish modernization when school is in session or during the summer.” asks Johnson. “We could possibly make a satellite elementary campus with portable classrooms and complete a full modernization in four to five months. We could modernize all seven elementary schools in about two and a half years.”

The seismic retrofit of Eureka High School will take top priority but will also require the most work. All architectural and engineering plans for modernization and seismic construction have to be approved by the Division of the State Architect. Roughly $21 million is devoted to the Eureka High campus, much of it going toward making campus buildings safe during strong earthquakes.

Johnson is energetic about the myriad of projects and pleased that work will be starting as soon as June 2003. “We’re going to get things rolling as fast as we can to try and take advantage of the down time next summer.”