Hillsborough City School District

Measure H - 55% Approval Required

Vote YES on H to repair and upgrade Hillsborough public school facilities to support quality academic instruction.

We are fortunate to have California and National Distinguished Schools here in Hillsborough. However, most of our elementary and middle school classrooms, science labs, and school structures were built more than 60 years ago. Our facilities need to be updated to meet current instructional standards as well as health and safety codes.

Voting YES on H will update classrooms and labs for advanced programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math so our students are well-prepared for high school, college, and beyond. 

All money raised by Measure H will be controlled locally and can only be spent on our Hillsborough schools.

Measure H will address urgent and critical school improvements, including:

* Upgrading classrooms for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math instruction

* Repairing and upgrading deteriorating roofs, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems

* Improving classroom instructional technology

* Upgrading schools to meet current earthquake, fire safety, and ADA accessibility standards

* Replacing aging portables with permanent classrooms

* Installing solar panels to reduce utility costs and save money for classroom programs

Measure H requires strict fiscal accountability:

* All funds must be spent improving Hillsborough schools and cannot be taken by the State

* An indepedent citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and public spending disclosure ensure funds are spent as promised.

No money can be used for administrator salaries or pensions.

Voting YES on H helps Hillsborough qualify for millions in State matching money.

Even if you don't have school-age children, improving our schools is a wise investment for the whole community.  High quality schools attract families and increase our home values.

Please join parents, teachers, and our community's respected leaders and vote YES on H for Hillsborough schools and students.

/s/ Laurence May, City Council member

/s/ Marie Chuang, Town of Hillsborough Council member

/s/ Mary Ellen Benninger, former HCSD Trustee

/s/ Barbara Regan, resident of 60 years

/s/ Mary C. Torello, HCSD teacher and alum 

Hillsborough City Elementary School District continues to lose students every year.  They have 1,268 students (2020-21) down 18% from 1,546 in 2014-15; that's a loss of 278 students.

The school board wants to borrow $140 million plus incur 30-40 years of interest payments at rates as high as 12% (legal limit).

Let's do the math. $140 million dividied by 1,290 students = $108,527 of debt per child.

And that's on top of the $25,436 that they spend per student annually - 193% of the statewide average for elementary school districts.

Clearly the district is not finished milking you for more: $140 million plus decades of interest payments, doubling the cost. Bond debt, just  like a home mortgage, must be repaid with interest.

The district's 2019-20 budget (latest figures available) includes $2,894,180 to service debt ($66,800,000 principal balance) on the last bond measure voters granted in 2002.

So the district proposes compounding that debt with another $140 million more!

(Source: California Department of Education's Education Data Partnership: www.ed-data.org)

Would you take out a 30 to 40 year loan to buy a personal computer?

That would be nuts, right? But that is basically what Hillsborough City School District is saying they want to do with this bond measure to "upgrade technology" and to build "permanent classrooms"  when enrollment is weakening.

Does either of those expense burdens make any sense whatsoever?  Clearly, no!

Don't reward policies of big borrowing and bad spending. Do not consent to district's buying technology that will be obsolete in 4-5 years, nor to their saddling today's schooldchildren with burdensome debt of 3-4 decades!

Encourage the district to use good financial management.

You can be FOR teachers, FOR children, and FOR education and still vote AGAINST decades of bonded indebtedness.

Vote NO on Measure H.

For information: www.SVTaxpayers.org

/s/ Mark W.A. Hinkle, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

/s/ Christopher Minoletti, President Pro Temp, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County 

Hillsborough City Elementary School District continues to lose students every year.  They have 1,268 students (2020-21) down 18% from 1,546 in 2014-15; that's a loss of 278 students.

The school board wants to borrow $140 million plus incur 30-40 years of interest payments at rates as high as 12% (legal limit).

Let's do the math. $140 million dividied by 1,290 students = $108,527 of debt per child.

And that's on top of the $25,436 that they spend per student annually - 193% of the statewide average for elementary school districts.

(Source: California Department of Education's Education Data Partnership: www.ed-data.org)

Clearly the district is not finished milking you for more: $140 million plus decades of interest payments, doubling the cost. Bond debt, just  like a home mortgage, must be repaid with interest.

The district's 2019-20 budget (latest figures available) includes $2,894,180 to service debt ($66,800,000 principal balance) on the last bond measure voters granted in 2002.

So the district proposes compounding that debt with another $140 million more!

Would you take out a 30 to 40 year loan to buy a personal computer?

That would be nuts, right? But that is basically what Hillsborough City School District is saying they want to do with this bond measure to "upgrade technology" and to build "permanent classrooms"  when enrollment is weakening.

Does either of those expense burdens make any sense whatsoever?  Clearly, no!

Don't reward policies of big borrowing and bad spending. Do not consent to district's buying technology that will be obsolete in 4-5 years, nor to their saddling today's schooldchildren with burdensome debt of 3-4 decades!

Vote NO on Measure H.

For information: www.SVTaxpayers.org

/s/ Mark W.A. Hinkle, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

/s/ Christopher Minoletti, President Pro Temp, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County 

The two opponents don't live in Hillsborough and don't understand the needs of our schools. They live in Morgan Hill and San Mateo and write similar arguments against nearly every local education ballot measure.  When you consider the FACTS, voting Yes on H is the obvious choice.

* FACT: Most Hillsboorough schools were built more than 60 years ago, haven't been upgraded for 20 years, and currently receive among the lowest levels of school facility funding in San Mateo County. Voting Yes on H completes needed repairs like upgrading deteriorating roofs, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems.

* FACT: Hillsborough schools need upgrades to stay safe, secure, and accessible for students.  Voting Yes on H improves earthquake and fire safety, campus security and makes classrooms accessible for students with disabilities.

* FACT: The basics of a quality education have changed. Voting Yes on H upgrades classrooms and science labs to meet 21st century standards for science, technology, engineering, and math instruction.

* FACT: Measure H requires MANDATORY FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. An independent citizens' oversight committee of Hillsborough residents must review the use of funds and report their findings to the community.  Annual public audits are required.

* FACT: By law, every penny from Measure H must stay in Hillsborough to ugprade local classrooms, labs, and school facilities.  No money can be taken away by the State or used for administrator salaries. 

Hillsborough voters know that supporting quality academic instruction will keep our local schools among the best in the State and enhance home values.

Join Hillsborough leaders and vote Yes on H.

/s/ Alvin L. Royse, Mayor, Town of Hillsborough

/s/ Christine Krolik, Vice Mayor, Town of Hillsborough

/s/ Harini Krishnan, Hillsborough Citizen of the Year 2020

/s/ Mairin Macaluso, Hillsborough Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee member

/s/ Courtney Bocci, Associated Parents Group of Hillsborough