Quick Take
As of Tuesday afternoon’s election update, all three Santa Cruz County school districts had scored victories in a handful of bonds and parcel tax measures.
Friday, March 19, 5:40 p.m. — As of Tuesday afternoon’s election update, all three Santa Cruz County school districts had scored victories in a handful of bonds and parcel tax measures.
Happy Valley Elementary School District’s parcel tax, Measure G, had 84% approval, with 16% of voters rejecting the tax.
About 64.5% of voters approved of Measure H, Live Oak School District’s $44 million bond measure, with 35.4% rejecting it.
In Davenport, 60.5% of voters approved Measure I and 67% supported Measure J for Pacific Elementary School District. Together the bonds will bring in just under $2 million to replace leaking roofs and build a new preschool.
Previous updates
Friday, March 15, 5:04 p.m. —Happy Valley Elementary School District’s parcel tax, Measure G, had 83.86% approval and 16.14% of voters rejecting the tax.
About 64.53% of voters approved of Measure H, Live Oak School District’s $44 million bond measure, with 35.47% rejecting it.
In Davenport, 60% of voters approved Measure I and 66.67% supported Measure J for Pacific Elementary School District. Together, if approved, the bonds would bring in just under $2 million to replace leaking roofs and build a new preschool.
Monday, March 11, 4:30 p.m. — With the release of the latest ballot results Monday afternoon, three Santa Cruz County school districts’ bond and parcel tax measures all look to have passed.
Happy Valley Elementary School District’s parcel tax, Measure G, had 83.46% approval and 16.54% of voters rejecting the tax.
About 64.81% of voters approved of Live Oak School District’s $44 million bond measure, Measure H, with 35.19% rejecting it.
In Davenport, 60.94% of voters approved Measure I and 67.19% supported Measure J for Pacific Elementary School District. Together, if approved, the bonds would bring in just under $2 million to replace leaking roofs and build a new preschool.
Friday, March 8, 4 p.m. — As of Friday afternoon’s vote-count update, three Santa Cruz County school districts’ bond and parcel tax measures all still appeared to be succeeding.
Happy Valley Elementary School District’s parcel tax had 82.18% approval and 17.82% of voters rejecting the tax.
About 64.65% of voters approved of Live Oak School District’s $44 million bond measure, with 35.35% rejecting it.
In Davenport, 60.23% of voters approved Measure I and 66.67% supported Measure J for Pacific Elementary School District. Together, if approved, the bonds would bring in just under $2 million to replace leaking roofs and build a new preschool.
Pacific Elementary Superintendent Eric Gross said he was feeling better after Friday’s update.
By his estimates, the district is above the 55% approval threshold needed to pass by 10 votes for Measure I and 21 votes for Measure J. Previously, the district was up by just 4 votes and 12 votes, respectively.
“I feel a lot more comfortable with these new results,” he said. “Our margin has increased a little bit.”
Wednesday, March 6, 2 a.m. – Three Santa Cruz County school districts’ bond and parcel tax measures all appeared trending toward victory in the final vote count of Tuesday night.
Happy Valley Elementary School District’s parcel tax had 84.15% approval and 15.85% of voters rejecting the tax as of 1:45 a.m. Wednesday.
About 63.52% of voters approve of Live Oak School District’s $44 million bond measure, with 36.48% rejecting it.
In Davenport, 58.33% of voters approved Measure I and 65.41% supported Measure J for Pacific Elementary School District. Together, if approved, the bonds would bring in just under $2 million to replace leaking roofs and build a new preschool.
Happy Valley Elementary needs at least 66.67% approval for its parcel tax to pass. Live Oak and Pacific Elementary school districts need at least 55% approval for their bond measures to pass.
Live Oak School District is asking its voters to approve the bond amid a severe budget crisis. On Wednesday evening, the school board is set to vote on a stabilization plan that includes layoffs of teachers, district-level staff, classroom aides and custodians.
As the crisis has come to light, parents and community members say district leaders and the school board failed to communicate with the public and failed to take preventative measures earlier.
A parent petition, which has almost 500 signatures, is calling for an investigation by the County Office of Education into the accusations against the superintendent from the district’s teachers, including that she allowed the business department to “operate irresponsibly” and she uses “unprofessional and disrespectful language in negotiations or conversations with labor unions.”
The budget challenges come amid yearslong contentious lease agreement negotiations with local senior organizations who rent district-owned property, located at 1777 Capitola Rd., which the district potentially plans to use for workforce housing. One of the organizations, Community Bridges, recently submitted an intent to purchase the property for $2.4 million. District officials say they’re hopeful to secure a different property for workforce housing so it the district may then sell the Capitola Road property to the senior organizations that wish to stay there.
District officials say their plans are extensive if the bond is approved. The funds could potentially go toward building a $10 million multipurpose building at Green Acres Elementary School, renovating a school playground, replacing the roof and reconfiguring the parking lot at Live Oak Elementary School. Another school needs its heating, ventilating and air conditioning system upgraded.
The funds couldn’t be used to alleviate its budget crisis and wouldn’t have a significant impact on improving its deficit.
Happy Valley Elementary School District officials hope to continue a parcel tax that voters approved in 2018 through Measure Q, Superintendent Michelle Stewart previously told Lookout. If voters approve Measure G, the tax will continue at the same rate for the next 18 years for a total of about $488,000. All property owners pay the same rate of $99 a year.
Stewart said, if approved, the funds will continue to be used to support the school’s art and music programs, upgrade classroom technology and retain teachers and staff. Parcel taxes can be used to pay for salaries, unlike bonds.
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.