■ $50 million bond approved by 63 percent of city voters

Benicia Unified School District officials rejoiced Wednesday after hearing voters approved a $50 million general obligation bond measure Tuesday by a healthy majority.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of the election and grateful to the community for the support of our schools,” BUSD Superintendent Janice Adams said.

“This bond will be used to improve the learning environment for Benicia’s students for years to come.”

The measure was approved by 63 percent of city voters.

“The Benicia Unified School District is so grateful to the Benicia community for supporting and passing Measure S, which is a success for all of our students right here in Benicia,” said Tim Rahill, the district’s chief business official. “Measure S contributes to every student at every Benicia school who will benefit from better, brighter schools.”

“The bond did not fail and we are elated!” said Rosie Switzer, chairperson of the district’s Board of Trustees. “Many staff and volunteers worked endlessly to carry the vote toward its passage.”

The measure needed 55 percent of the vote to pass.

The district has had mixed results in asking voters to approve additional money for its schools.

“The Benicia community has supported the Benicia schools with two school facility measures from the 1990s, which were mainly used to house the additional students who were coming to the schools from all of the new homes that were being built at that time,” Rahill said.

But an annual $105-per-parcel tax failed in 2004, and another parcel tax was rejected in 2006.

The district tried to pass still another parcel tax in 2010 that would have added $58 annually to each parcel for six years. It received nearly 63 percent of the vote, about the same as the bond measure, but a state constitutional amendment requires parcel taxes to get 66 percent approval to pass.

Before 2001, school districts also needed a two-thirds supermajority approval for a general obligation bond measure to pass. That changed when California voters approved Proposition 39, a measure that gives districts the choice of keeping the two-thirds supermajority or dropping it to 55 percent approval.

The newly passed bond is designed to fund necessary improvements at a time when state and federal support of schools is declining. Property owners will pay $39 annually — about $3.25 a month — for each $100,000 in assessed taxable property value.

Rahill said the successful bond measure will give the district the money it needs to make health, safety and security improvements as well as upgrade its technology “for 21st-century learning.” He said putting those improvements in place will take about eight years.

“The first project I am going to recommend to the board is a roof replacement project for Benicia Middle School,” Adams said. “That we would like to get done this summer.”

She also wants school fire alarms to get quick attention, and said intercom, telephone and bell systems “will need to be near the top of any priority list at any affected site.”

The bond measure is expected to cover $49,611,259 in deferred maintenance, capital improvements and new construction. Of that amount, $24 million is earmarked for modernization and technological improvements; $13 million for health, safety and security; $6.5 million for infrastructure improvements; and $6.4 million for libraries, multipurpose rooms, gymnasium and sports areas, and shade structures.

Adams said Wednesday a Facilities Oversight Committee will be named to keep an eye on how the bond money is spent.

The district’s consultant, Jon Isom, president of Isom Advisors, Walnut Creek, told BUSD trustees earlier this year, “The facilities look good as you drive by, and maybe you have maintained the facilities as best you can.”

But even when buildings are well maintained, they become inefficient to keep heated and cooled, he said, calling infrastructure “kind of the bones of the district,” and noting those “bones” have been around for decades.

The district’s schools are older, from the district office that was built in the 1930s to the newest, Matthew Turner Elementary School, built in 1993. The average age of district buildings is 47.

Schools have had electrical problems, leaky roofs and other plumbing problems. Many windows are single-paned, and therefore not energy efficient. Drinking fountains and bathrooms also need upgrading.

So does security, particularly after such incidents as the Sandy Hook Elementary School slaughter, though common elements, such as fire alarms, communication equipment, bells, fencing and parking need improvements, too.

Isom said school classrooms and science laboratories are built for the way classes were taught 20 to 40 years ago and are in need of modernization, as are libraries and multipurpose rooms.

Sports areas also need upgrading. During a recent presentation to the City Council, Adams said Benicia High School’s sports facilities are fine for practice, but the school isn’t able to invite other teams for competition until facilities are brought up to appropriate standards.

“The Benicia community has once again re-affirmed its commitment to public education,” BUSD Trustee Peter Morgan said. “The passage of Measure S will allow us to implement a much-needed and long-range facilities master plan in a manner that will prioritize the health, safety and well-being of our children.

“I am very grateful for the work of Superintendent Adams, Karen Love and the scores of volunteers who were so effective and passionate about communicating the needs of our children and district to the community,” he said.

“Now, the Governing Board and the district, with public oversight, will begin to execute this expression of trust and confidence in a careful, responsible, and cost-effective manner for the benefit of the children and the community that we are so fortunate to serve.”

In other elections affecting Benicia, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson earned more than 80 percent of the vote in his re-election bid. Neither of his opponents stated a party preference. James Hinton was second with 11.1 percent, and Douglas S. Van Raam drew 8.4 percent of the vote.

Assemblymember Susan A. Bonilla ran unopposed. State Sen. Lois Wolk’s district was not up for direct primary election this year.

Fiona Ma, a Democrat, received 68.5 percent of the vote for District 2 Board of Equalization. Republican James E. Thies received 31.5 percent of the vote.