Cascade district trustees will consider placing $11.7 million bond on Nov. ballot

The Cascade Union Elementary School District is considering putting a bond measure on the November ballot to ease its financial woes.

The bond consideration was spurred partly because of a declining enrollment study conducted by Total School Solutions. The study reported a $25 million need in facilities and technology improvements. The school could seek $11.7 million in bonds, depending on the priorities given to projects, and apply for state matching grants.

A special district board meeting is set for Thursday, July 31, to determine whether or not to proceed with a bond measure. A decision by that date would meet the Aug. 8 deadline that is required to place a matter on the county’s November ballot.

The school district has been working with Dale Scott and Company to determine the likelihood of whether a bond measure in the district would pass. After conducting a survey and consulting with residents of the district, a representative of the Dale Scott and Company gave the board a ‘soft recommendation’ to proceed with the bond measure.

“I say soft because I think it would be a good idea to get some additional feedback from community leaders,” said firm representative Jon Isom. “But right now, I think the community is willing to support certain projects at certain rates.”

Isom said the mindset of voters in the district is very supportive of schools.

“Overwhelmingly, 90 percent of the voters in this district feel that the schools should be a number one priority. That is a key, key component to have.“

The firm conducted a telephone survey of 265 likely voters in the district. The survey yielded a 62 percent support rate for a school bond measure. The results indicated voters were most supportive of projects that increase students’ safety, including alarm and communication systems, updating play areas and improving drop off and pick up areas at schools.

If a bond were to pass at the upper-end of the tax rate spectrum, the estimated cost to the average homeowner living in the Cascade school district area would be about $3.10 per month. Shasta County has one of the worst school bond success rates in the state. But in 2000, the number of votes needed to pass a bond decreased from a two-thirds majority to a new, lower threshold of just 55 percent, increasing the chance for success.

Isom said 25 of the 28 bonds which previously failed would have passed under the new 55 percent threshold.

The bond representative said one of the biggest advantages he sees for the Cascade School District is the district has never gone out for a bond before.

“Your school district has tremendous need. If people understand that a need exists, which I think they do here, then the only option to improve schools is a local tax measure,” Isom said.

“While voters here are conservative in their views, I think they also recognize the support of education and improving their communities.”

Isom reported that Dale Scott and Company was also working with Happy Valley and Pacheco school districts to consider school bond measures in those districts.