Who Supports Sonoma County’s School Bond Measures?

On Tuesday, voters will decide whether 10 school districts in Sonoma County can borrow a total of $584.2 million in school bonds to make what they describe as critical updates to their schools.

Bonds are usually requested for large-scale projects such as new construction or renovation of buildings. If approved by voters, a district would borrow money from a financial institution, to be repaid by taxpayers with annual interest over the life of the bonds.

A handful of the bond campaigns are supported by community members and organizations that have donated thousands of dollars. No organizations appear to have reported raising money in opposition to the bond measures.

Here’s what their latest campaign finance filings show.

Yes for Measures Z and AA: Petaluma City Schools

The Yes on Measures Z and AA committees combined their support for the two bond issues, which would be used to provide updates to elementary and middle schools in the county’s second-largest district.

The Petaluma City Schools district is asking for $70 million to repair its elementary schools.

Repairs to the high schools are estimated to cost $159 million.

The support campaign has received $60,400 since its inception, mostly from individual donations from unions.

Of that, $27,732.47 came in the form of financial contributions from electricians from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 551 Issues PAC.

Two law firms posted $5,500 in support of the two bonds. Orbach Huff and Henderson, Los Angeles child welfare attorneys, contributed $4,000 and Dannis Wolliver Kelley, a San Francisco law firm representing public schools and education, contributed $1,000.

The committee spent $9,731 on payments for signage, campaign design and mailers, split between marketing for both measures.

Committee to Improve Healdsburg Elementary Schools – Yes on R

They are asking for $49.5 million for building repairs and classroom upgrades at Healdsburg elementary schools.

The support campaign has received a total of $16,000 in contributions, including $5,000 from Waterworks Industries, Inc, a water utility based in Windsor; $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 of Windsor Measure V: Windsor Unified School District

They are asking for $122.5 for various school improvements. .

The support committee has received $15,000 in monetary 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 a Chico-based company, Creative Composition Inc.

Yes on Measure K Committee: Piner-Olivet School District

The district is seeking $29.5 million for school repairs.

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

They haven’t spent any of their donations yet.

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