Students entering a Lompoc Unified School District classroom see words of wisdom displayed near large rusty spots on the walls, mismatched tile, yellowed blinds and other signs of the facility’s dated condition.
Once inside, they get to sit at old desks with sea foam green chairs revealing the age of the 57-year-old Cabrillo High School campus.
“If you go through all the campuses, you will see that the needs are consistent but not identical,” said Doug Sorum, assistant superintendent of business services.
For the fourth time since 2016, Lompoc’s school district has asked voters to approve a $125 million bond measure, this one called Measure A, to undertake what district officials say is a much-needed modernization program across all of the 16 campuses. To pass, the measure must be approved by 55% of voters in the Nov. 8 election.
District officials say a local bond measure also would make LUSD eligible for approximately $46 million in state matching funds, boosting the projects that could be completed.
Before placing the bond on the ballots, the district polled voters to gauge support and assess what projects community members thought were most important in a district where the “newest” campus was built in 1969.
“Modernizing the existing classrooms was, bar none, the highest item the community wanted to see done,” Sorum told Noozhawk.
Others included transitional kindergarten classrooms, career/technical education facilities and portable classroom building replacement, he added.
Modern flooring would be installed instead of old tile containing asbestos. Classroom walls with rusty window frames that allow water and insect intrusion also would be replaced.
“The new windows would be operable,” Sorum said. “When I say operable I mean teachers would be able to open and close a window to allow fresh air in when they wanted it.
“That’s something that is pretty hit and miss in the district. Most of them have been long since rusted shut. If we open them, you’ll shatter the whole window.”
A worn spot sits behind a teacher’s desk showing the brittle tile — “It’s well past any life expectancy,” Sorum said.
Other projects include focus on safety and security, such as putting fencing around campuses, adding cameras and improving public address systems.
Interim Superintendent Debbie Blow has led two other districts that passed bond measures, including the Orcutt Union School District.
“The classrooms were in better condition and the facilities were in better condition than here,” she said. “I’m a little shocked at the condition.”
School board member Tom Blanco was more blunt.
“You know what kids deserve, and our kids aren’t getting that,” he said.
Measure A has opposition, including from traditional factions objecting to tax hikes. One criticism contends that a lack of maintenance led to problems.
“Our classrooms are very well maintained,” Blow countered, adding that a 60-year-old house at some point needs renovations and modernization.
Supporters say the new tax for facility improvements will not increase property tax bills because it’s set up to issue new bonds once the prior bond is paid off to avoid an overall tax hike.
Opponents also complained that the oversight committee won’t have a say about which projects get done.
But Sorum said that stems from state laws that spell out the process, which includes appointing an oversight committee and requires audits.
Two of the opponents, who signed the opposition statement in the sample ballot, previously served on the Measure N Oversight Committee. One was on the panel when its final report was submitted, stating that district officials “have monitored every penny and successfully passed audits by state agencies without any urging from the Oversight Committee.”
“In every meeting the district has provided detailed cost breakdowns and explained each cost,” the report said.
No on A signs also cite the district’s leadership, although they don’t mention that the district’s top two administrators left over the summer.
Opponents point out that LUSD has pursued three unsuccessful bond measures in recent years, one in 2016 and two others in 2018. But Sorum noted the initiatives fell just short of the required 55% voter approval, in one instance by 300 votes.
“Clearly, the community supports the idea,” he said. “We just have haven’t quite got it over the fence yet,” Sorum said. “The truth of the matter is when anyone says, ‘Lompoc doesn’t support it. Quit trying,’ they’re just feeding misinformation.”
Blanco, a retiree, said he isn’t fond of adding taxes but has recognized the broader value of the school modernization efforts.
“The folks who care about the community understand that these kids are going be in our community, helping us, being our nurses, serving our food and being our doctors,” he said. “We have to take care of them so the community gets better.”
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.