Although voters have approved issuing bonds to complete the WCCUSD capital projects program, which includes modernization and construction of new schools, the State of California has an arbitrary limit on the ratio of bonded indebtedness, which would have limited the amount money that could actually be spent due to the devaluation of property during the recession.

The District applied for a waiver, which has now been recommended for approval by the California Department of Education at its March 11 meeting.

For more information, see: School Construction Bonds (Bond Indebtedness Limit – Unified after 2000), Item W-6 General (DOC; 95KB; 3pp.) Subject: Request by West Contra Costa Unified School District to waive California Education Code sections 15106 and 15270(a) to allow the district to exceed its bond indebtedness limit of 2.5 percent of the taxable assessed value of property (requesting 5.0 percent). Waiver Number: 200-12-2010, (Recommended for APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS), Item W-6 Attachment 1 (DOC; 99KB; 9pp.) This will allow WCCUSD complete all projects, including Pinole Valley High School, Portola Middle School, Highland Elementary,El Cerrito High School Fields projects, Hercules High School Science Center and Coronado Elementary.

Much credit goes to the WCCUSD Board of Education members, WCCUSD staff, and particularly to Charles Ramsey who has bird dogged this issue for months, attending every city council meeting in the District to successfully secure endorsement.