Who Supports the Sonoma County School Bond Measure

Voters will decide Tuesday whether Sonoma County’s 10 school districts can borrow a total of $584.2 million in school bond funds to make what they call critical upgrades to their schools.

Bonds are typically required for large-scale projects such as new construction or building renovations. If approved by voters, the district would borrow money from a financial institution, which would be repaid by taxpayers with annual interest over the life of the bonds.

Several bond campaigns are supported by community members and organizations who have donated thousands of dollars. No organizations appear to have reported raising money to counter any bond measures.

Here’s what their latest campaign finance reports show.

Yes in Measures Z and AA: Petaluma City Schools

The Yes Z Committee and the AA Committee have combined their support for two bond issues that will be used to upgrade elementary and middle schools in the county’s second-largest district.

The Petaluma City School District is asking for $70 million to renovate elementary schools.

Middle school renovations are estimated to cost $159 million.

The support campaign has received $60,400 since it began, mostly from individual donations from union members.

Of this amount, $27,732.47 came from personal donations from electricians to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 551 PAC.

Two law firms contributed $5,500 to support two bonds. Orbach Huff and Henderson, child welfare attorneys in Los Angeles, contributed $4,000, and Dennis Walliver Kelly, a San Francisco law firm representing public schools and education, contributed $1,000.

The committee spent $9,731 on signage, campaign development and mailings, split between marketing for both measures.

Healdsburg Elementary School Improvement Committee – Yes to R

They are asking for $49.5 million to renovate buildings and upgrade classrooms at Healdsburg elementary schools.

The support campaign received a total of $16,000 in donations, including $5,000 from Waterworks Industries, Inc., a Windsor-based water contractor; $6,000 from Lathrop Construction Associates, Inc. from Benicia and finally $5,000 from Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, Inc. of Santa Rosa, who also contributed to Measure V to improve Windsor schools.

They haven’t spent any of their donations yet.

Support for Windsor Measure V: Windsor Unified School District

They are asking for $122.50 for various school improvements. .

The support committee received $15,000 in cash contributions, including $10,000 from Artnz builders of Petaluma and $5,000 from Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, Inc. from Santa Rosa.

They spent just over $5,000 on large-scale marketing, such as signage, with Chico-based Creative Composition Inc.

Yes, Measure K Committee: Piner-Olivet School District

The district is asking for $29.5 million to renovate the school.

The support campaign received $10,250 in cash donations: $250 from the Piner-Olivet Teachers Association, $5,000 from CA+Sa Studio, Inc., a Napa-based planning and construction company, and another $5,000 from Van Pelt Construction Services from Fairfield.

They haven’t spent any of their donations yet.

Report For America corps member Adriana Gutierrez covers education and child welfare for The Press Democrat. You can reach her at [email protected].