The Vallejo, Calif., school district's biennial tradition continues Wednesday as trustees review survey results regarding the community's interest in supporting a school bond for the upcoming election.
This attempt to get a school bond measure approved by voters may be more difficult.
According to the survey — conducted between Nov. 30 through Dec. 9 last year — the public's confidence in the district has eroded since 2016, according to results provided by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3).
Polled in January 2016, just 37 percent said they had a favorable opinion of the Vallejo City Unified School District. That number dropped to 29 percent, with 57 percent stating they did not have a favorable view of the district.
The firm does state that despite the district's negative image with the public, "a solid majority of voters remain open to supporting a VCUSD bond measure. ..."
Support for a school bond is about 61 percent, the firm said. This would be enough to get a smaller bond approved via the 55 percent threshold, they added. Larger bond amounts require 66 percent or two-thirds support.
The district was snake-bitten in 2014 when it attempted to get a $239 million bond approved by Vallejo voters. While receiving a healthy 61 percent "yes" vote, it was still short of the two-thirds required for passage.
Two years ago, after paying for polling services, the five-member school board failed to place two companion general obligation bond measures on the November 2016 ballot.
District staff had recommended placing the two $139 million bonds on the fall ballot to repair school facilities. One measure was reserved for middle and high schools facilities, while the second was intended to assist the district's elementary schools.
Four out of the five trustees were needed to vote "yes" to place one or both measures on the fall ballot. Trustee Ruscal Cayangyang, and board President Burky Worel declined to support the measures -- effectively killing the district's chances of placing the bonds before the voters.
Last fall, the district agreed to give $33,000 to FM3 for the most recent polling services.
The VCUSD Governing Board will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, inside the Governing Board Room, at 665 Walnut Avenue on Mare Island.
