School board amends resolution to place $450 million bond on November ballot, votes unanimously

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education amended Resolution 60613 SP3 on Aug. 8, 2006, to order an election authorizing up to $450,000,000 in general obligation bonds and to clarify the scope and administration language in the resolution's exhibits. The amendment updates Exhibit A to better describe work covered by projects, Exhibit B to tie scope to specific addresses (and allow work to remain authorized at those locations if programs move), and adds language in Exhibit C clarifying quoted language and an allowance for landlords to pass through up to 50% of resulting property tax increases to residential tenants to the extent allowed by local law.

Board President Yi and Superintendent Chan introduced staff from the district bond team to present the amendment. Director of Policy and Operations Nancy Waymak and Chief Facilities Officer David Golden outlined the amendment's changes; the reading of the resolution and the staff report described the bond as part of a multi-year program that includes 64 proposed projects, $5 million set aside for greening schools and $15 million set aside for a soda-replacement commitment.

Members of organized labor addressed the board during public comment. Dennis Kelly, president of the United Educators of San Francisco, said "there was a lack of community involvement and a development of community support" and urged the district to engage teachers and paraprofessionals if it seeks union support. Larry Griffin of SEIU Local 790 told the board there is a possibility his union may withhold endorsement or actively campaign against the bond if outstanding issues are not resolved before the unions' endorsement meetings.

Several commissioners acknowledged the need for more proactive outreach to labor and community groups but expressed public support for the bond's projects, citing ADA accessibility, health and safety improvements, modernization, and environmental/greening measures. Vice President Lipson said audits of prior bonds and program management gave the board confidence the program is on schedule and on budget.

The board took a roll-call vote after discussion; the amendment passed with a recorded 7 ayes and no dissenting votes. Staff noted the board had earlier unanimously approved placing a bond on the ballot during a special meeting, and the amendment refines the election order language before finalizing the measure.

Next steps: staff will proceed with finalizing ballot language and administrative exhibits and continue outreach to stakeholders described during public comment. No additional formal actions were recorded for this agenda item at the meeting.