San Jose school bond could fund teacher housing

San Jose’s largest school district is counting on voters to approve more than $1 billion to upgrade facilities and house employees, which community advocates say is needed. 

The San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) board of trustees approved putting a nearly $1.2 billion general obligation bond on the Nov. 5 ballot at a special meeting last week. It would levy a tax of $60 per $100,000 of assessed home value on properties within the district, which serves 25,000 students across 41 campuses. School leaders want the money to improve facilities and provide affordable housing to attract and retain teachers and other employees.

San Jose Teachers Association President Renata Sanchez said teacher housing is essential, and educators often tell her about their difficulties affording rent, especially those making less than $100,000 a year, a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of living in Silicon Valley. The union tries to pair up teachers as roommates or connect with them places to rent, including rooms and in-law units.

“Our teachers are increasingly leaving the district because of the lack of affordable housing and the general expensive cost of living here,” she told San José Spotlight. “If we’re able to build employee housing, we would be able to offer those (rental) units at far below market rates.”

The bond is aimed at repairing aging facilities and updating technology, as well as ensuring campuses are safe and secure. SJUSD conducted a facility assessment to identify upgrades needed at each school site — including electrical, roofing, ventilation and plumbing systems — to meet current safety and security standards.

Paul Nyhof, a district employee, said the bond is needed to repair leaking roofs at some schools, some of which are 75 years old. He said working HVAC systems are critical with hot days over 100 degrees.

The idea of school districts building teacher housing is supported by California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. At a news conference earlier this week, Thurmond proposed the development of 2.3 million homes over the next eight years, using school district owned land and other county office of education properties.

A $10 billion state bond is also headed for the November ballot for school facility repairs and upgrades. If approved, K-12 schools would receive $8.5 billion and community colleges would receive $1.5 billion.

“The district cannot rely on the State of California to fund school facility improvements and the limited state dollars available for facility upgrades often require local matching funds that could be provided by a local bond measure,” the district wrote in the bond resolution passed at the meeting.

SJUSD’s bond measure needs 55% approval to pass. District officials did not respond to requests for comment.

The bond would also fund communications systems, fencing, door and window locks and renovate points of entry. Parent and school safety advocate Trudi McCanna said the bond is critical for school safety. Last year, school resource officers arrested a Willow Glen High School student who walked onto campus armed with a loaded ghost gun and knife and a Hoover Middle School student was caught carrying a loaded firearm. In addition, a threat on social media said someone was coming to Lincoln High School to shoot people.

“We have learned through the incidents of the last couple of years that our intercom systems are woefully out of date and beyond repair,” she said.

McCanna said physical safety threats like mold and infrastructure also need to be addressed.

“Our schools are in a state of disrepair,” she told San José Spotlight. “It’s going to require a large influx of money to get us where we need to be. Our kids deserve and our teachers deserve to have safe places… and we’re going to need a bond for that to happen.”

Teacher Michelle Robles said a district assessment estimated a cost of almost $1.4 billion to fix everything. She said the bond has a good chance of passing as other school related taxes expire. Robles said the second-floor balcony outside her classroom students use to go to other classes at Willow Glen High School often has holes in it. 

“The district does what it can to patch and repair it,” she said. “This money could allow for more serious repairs.”

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].