Politics & Government

Raise Taxes and Repair Schools?

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District talks Wednesday evening about a possible bond measure.

There's a 60-day window at to rennovate an old bathroom that, for years, has been used as a storage closet.

But the school, built 75 years ago, needed the additional facilities for its 600 students, so a work crew is hustling to get the bathroom built (and as of Wednesday, they're about 13 days in).

It's just one of many shortcomings at the aging Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools, and why the school board is considering floating a bond measure later this year to fund facilities improvements.

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"We're hoping we can do something at all of our schools with old buildings," said Murry Schekman, the assistant superintendent for secondary education for PVUSD.

Wednesday, the Board of Trustees will meet to discuss the bond options: $210 million, $160 million and $110 million.

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A phone survey done of about 450 would-be voters last fall indicated the most people would support about $150 million for a bond measure. A substantial number also said they'd vote for the $210 million option, according to information presented to the school board earlier this year.

The $200 million bond would increase property taxes within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District $50.97 per $100,000 of assessed value. That means if your house is worth $300,000, you'd pay $152.94 more in property taxes each year.

By comparison, a $100 million bond would cost $76.46 more for a homeowner with a $300,000 home.

The bond would pay for a long list of improvements at dozens of schools: computers in Aptos, science classrooms at Watsonville High, athletic facilities at Pajaro Valley High, solar carports and less-sexy repairs, like roofs and bathroom upgrades.

"At E.A. Hall, one of the things that's really in need is that field out there," Schekman said. "... It breeds gophers, not athletics."

For a full list of the costs to big each PVUSD school up to par, .

Improving the school district's oldest and newest high schools is a priority. Watsonville High has electrical problems its science wing, which was built seven decades ago, among other issues. PV High, built a decade ago, has never been finished and Schekman said that affects student morale.

"We really need to finish the high school," Schekman said. "PV deserves its own athletic facility."

Parents and staff from some schools came to an earlier school board meeting . People can weigh in at Wednesday's meeting as well.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Wednesday in .

For specifics about what repairs and imrpovements each school would get with the varying levels of possible bond funding, read the PDF attached to this story.


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