Colton school district must now deliver on Measure G promises
The Colton Joint Unified School District made a lot of promises to voters when touting the benefits of Measure G.
A new, state-of-the-art high school in Grand Terrace, a possible new high school in the Bloomington area and improvements to every school in the district.
Those were some of the possibilities district officials said the $225 million bond initiative could make reality.
Though it did have its critics, Measure G passed overwhelmingly with 73.33 percent of the vote.
Now it's time for the district to deliver on its promises.
A new, state-of-the-art high school in Grand Terrace, a possible new high school in the Bloomington area and improvements to every school in the district.
Those were some of the possibilities district officials said the $225 million bond initiative could make reality.
Though it did have its critics, Measure G passed overwhelmingly with 73.33 percent of the vote.
Now it's time for the district to deliver on its promises.
"I don't build football fields, I build classrooms in schools to
educate children," said Board of Education member Mel
Albiso.
Albiso says district parents were right to be upset over the outcome of Measure B, the last school bond initiative voters approved in 2001.
When district officials promoted the bond initiative they promised seven new schools and a host of modernization projects at existing schools.
Modernization projects have been completed, but no new schools have been built.
Albiso says the district had poor leadership at the time and since those leadership problems have been corrected.
When he was elected in 2005, Albiso said he ran on a platform of correcting the district's leadership problems.
The district's voters can feel confident the board will move forward and push new projects through expeditiously, Albiso said.
Priority projects include the district's third comprehensive high school in Grand Terrace, an elementary school in Bloomington and possibly a ninth grade campus in Bloomington to reduce overcrowding at Bloomington High, Albiso said.
Bringing Bloomington and Colton high schools up to standard with all of the amenities of new schools will also be a top priority, Albiso added.
Board member Kent Taylor says the district did run into some hurdles that prevented them from delivering everything Measure B promised.
The district was forced to acquire the Inland Timber site at Taylor and Main streets in Grand Terrace - where the third high school will be built - by eminent domain, which caused extensive delays.
The high school should be under construction next year and open in 2010, Taylor said.
Although the district did fall a little short with Measure B, Taylor believes voters will get more bang for their buck with Measure G.
"Labor and construction costs are lower because of the economic slump. The cost to build is lower, land is cheaper and the willingness of the companies to work with us is tremendous" Taylor said. "We're going to seize the moment and use the resources the voters have so generously placed in out hands."
Board member Marge Mendoza-Ware agrees the top priorities need to be the Grand Terrace high school and a new campus in Bloomington.
She eyes a middle school campus that includes ninth grade to ease the strain on Bloomington High School.
She says it could be built on district-owned property on Cedar and Santa Ana avenues.
"What we probably have the greatest need for there (Bloomington) is a middle school," Mendoza-Ware said.
michael.sorba@inlandnewspapers.com
Albiso says district parents were right to be upset over the outcome of Measure B, the last school bond initiative voters approved in 2001.
When district officials promoted the bond initiative they promised seven new schools and a host of modernization projects at existing schools.
Modernization projects have been completed, but no new schools have been built.
Albiso says the district had poor leadership at the time and since those leadership problems have been corrected.
When he was elected in 2005, Albiso said he ran on a platform of correcting the district's leadership problems.
The district's voters can feel confident the board will move forward and push new projects through expeditiously, Albiso said.
Priority projects include the district's third comprehensive high school in Grand Terrace, an elementary school in Bloomington and possibly a ninth grade campus in Bloomington to reduce overcrowding at Bloomington High, Albiso said.
Bringing Bloomington and Colton high schools up to standard with all of the amenities of new schools will also be a top priority, Albiso added.
Board member Kent Taylor says the district did run into some hurdles that prevented them from delivering everything Measure B promised.
The district was forced to acquire the Inland Timber site at Taylor and Main streets in Grand Terrace - where the third high school will be built - by eminent domain, which caused extensive delays.
The high school should be under construction next year and open in 2010, Taylor said.
Although the district did fall a little short with Measure B, Taylor believes voters will get more bang for their buck with Measure G.
"Labor and construction costs are lower because of the economic slump. The cost to build is lower, land is cheaper and the willingness of the companies to work with us is tremendous" Taylor said. "We're going to seize the moment and use the resources the voters have so generously placed in out hands."
Board member Marge Mendoza-Ware agrees the top priorities need to be the Grand Terrace high school and a new campus in Bloomington.
She eyes a middle school campus that includes ninth grade to ease the strain on Bloomington High School.
She says it could be built on district-owned property on Cedar and Santa Ana avenues.
"What we probably have the greatest need for there (Bloomington) is a middle school," Mendoza-Ware said.
michael.sorba@inlandnewspapers.com
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