Hollister School District trustees Tuesday agreed to forgo placing a facilities bond on the June ballot with the intention of moving ahead for a November measure.
Trustees discussed a proposed $27 million facilities modernization bond proposed in light of expected growth in the years to come, with about 2,500 homes currently planned for the area, many in the southeast section of Hollister. The Hollister School District is weighing an expansion bond as officials at the San Benito High School District consider a multimillion-bond to renovate the high school campus as well.
“We need to develop a plan for all those students,” said Superintendent Gary McIntire, later adding: “We need to be prepared to do it correctly.”
In agreeing with a presentation from McIntire, trustees put off a bond until the likely November time frame. That would give officials ample time to prepare the message and get the needed help in delivering it to likely voters. The district’s decision came a day after it received a demographer’s report detailing an array of findings – the most telling of which is that likely voters are prepared to provide more than the needed 55 percent support to get a $27 million bond approved.
McIntire and the trustees weighed such factors as the timing of the San Benito bond, the types of voters who normally participate in primaries versus general elections, and the need to work further with an architect in developing a list of projects. At this point, McIntire told trustees he didn’t feel officials were prepared to fully deliver their message.
After some debate among trustees, largely about the implications of SBHS floating a similar bond, trustees unanimously agreed to forgo the June timeline, which would have required having necessary paperwork completed in early March. For one, Trustee Lupe Navarro contended it would be “really hasty” to put together the bond measure, and gain the necessary support, before the June primary.
Next, the board is set to consider recommendations from a facilities committee looking at potential short- and long-term renovation options. In general, McIntire indicated he would lean toward focusing the bond renovations toward the modernization of Rancho San Justo, Sunnyslope and R.O. Hardin schools – as opposed to, for instance, using a large chunk of the money to build a new school.
McIntire also noted he attended a San Benito High School District meeting last Thursday where that district’s officials discussed its proposed bond measure. He said high school officials didn’t appear ready to make a decision by the time he had to leave.
