Residents pledge support to school bond

BONSALL – The grassroots campaign to pass the Bonsall Student Success and Safety Bond Measure and relieve student overcrowding is officially underway, with more than 100 residents pledging their support for the locally controlled funding measure on the ballot this November.

“We are thrilled at the outpouring of support we’ve seen for this important measure already,” said Todd Benton, a local parent and Volunteer Chair for Safe and Strong Bonsall Schools. “This is all about the safety and educational success of our children, and our community clearly recognizes that.”

Currently, Bonsall High School is crammed onto the same campus as Sullivan Middle School, creating significant safety concerns. As current Bonsall elementary school children reach middle and high school, school overcrowding will only get worse.

“We just can’t risk another Lilac Fire,” commented Amanda Maldonado, a parent of two at Bonsall Elementary. “We barely got all of those kids off of that campus then; we were lucky.”

“Continuing to add students to a campus that is in an area that lacks suitable evacuation routes compounds the problem,” said Fallbrook business owner Jon Large, “This plan significantly reduces the number of students at risk.”

Countless local supporters also tout the bond for the varied educational opportunities it will create for local students. Bonsall children need their own high school campus to meet the demand for key subjects like science, technology, engineering, arts and math, which are requirements for success in college and modern careers.

“Bonsall High School students are excelling, but without our own campus, we are really limited in the innovative programs and hands-on academic opportunities we can offer our kids,” said Danny Costa, a teacher at Bonsall High. “This bond is the only way to get a dedicated campus for our high school and keep our students on the path to success.”

The school bond is a scaled-back, fiscally conservative plan to build the high school campus Bonsall currently lacks and desperately needs. It includes a clear system of accountability, including an independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual public audits to give Bonsall and Fallbrook residents local control over local funds. The state and federal government can’t take any of the funds.

“I used to be opposed to this plan, but I am proud to say that I’ve changed my mind,” said Brian Olson, a parent and local business owner. “The district did its homework on this bond and really put forward the best plan for our kids and our community. I am proud to be one of the many Bonsall residents in support of this measure.”

“Numerous studies can be found out there on the internet indicating that good schools boost property values,” stated retired Navy captain Jeff Johnson. “I’ve been a Bonsall resident for 16 years. Near the beginning, we saw property values rise regularly. But over the last six or eight years, things have been pretty flat. We already have the foundation of a great high school focused on technology, preparing our kids for modern jobs. The new school campus will seal the deal and get our property values back on the upward slope.”

The campaign will officially kick off at Aug. 16, 5 p.m. at El Jardin Mexican Restaurant, 1581 S. Mission Road, where all proceeds will benefit the grassroots group Safe and Strong Bonsall Schools. Details, along with the full list of grassroots supporters, can be found at http://www.SafeandStrongBonsallSchools.com.