The Burlingame Voice

In Concert X

Music lovers, mark your calendars for Saturday, February 24. Beginning at 7 p.m. at the San Mateo's Performing Art Center, our local high school students will present a concert which features three bands (orchestra, symphonic and jazz) as well as a choral group. The musicians, who auditioned for their parts, are a choice group of "honors musicians" from each of the six SMUHSD high schools. The bands and choir will be conducted by four very talented guest conductors (for more information on the guest conductors, see www.ffpa.net). This promises to be a evening of quality music presented close to home. Don't miss it.

- Written by Joanne

Councilmember Costs

Rich Grogan states on another thread:

Another way to look at this is, while seated on the council the member earned: medical benefit + stipends = approximately $8,167 a month.

Rich how is the $8,167 made up?

- Written by Fiona

BURLINGAME-HILLSBOROUGH HISTORY MUSEUM

Burlingame, Calif. - Start-up costs for the Burlingame-Hillsborough History Museum are approximately $1.1 million, a hefty sum that Burlingame Historical Society officials hope to raise by this fall.

http://www.examiner.com/a-562190~History_museum_pricetag_at__1M.html

The Burlingame Historical Society wants the empty historic Burlingame Caltrain Station building to become its new home sometime during the city's centennial year celebration, which starts in June. The group had its first look Sunday at the needed changes and how much those changes would cost to bring the century-old building up to museum quality and how to keep the integrity of the historic building itself intact.

The Caltrain Joint Powers Board and the historical society solidified a deal last summer regarding use of the long-empty train station building, said Russ Cohen historical society president and Burlingame City Councilman. The lease allows the historical society to use the high-ceiling space now filled with old, wooden benches, as long as it pays for the maintenance costs.

The historical society has raised approximately $5,700 for the new museum. Officials may start a foundation to help raise funds and are actively searching for grant writers to seek out state and national funds for the project.

Using one such grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the historical society hired architects Michael Garavaglia and Richard Terrones to perform an evaluation of the station, which opened for service in 1894, and help form a vision of what the museum would look like.

Garavaglia, a San Francisco-based preservation architect, said that while there has been some renovation to the building over the years, keeping the characteristic stucco, shaped parapets and clay roof tile are essential to preserving its history.

Obviously, any changes to the building have to be done very thoughtfully,? Garavaglia said.

Terrones, who took the lead on describing the museum's future, said that music, lighting and the usual then-and-now set of photos were essential. But making the museum more interactive would keep people coming back, said Terrones, who calculated the $1.1 million in start-up costs.

Part of the interactive vision involves uncovering a fireplace currently blocked by stucco and a bulletin board to give the drafty building more of a living room feel with chairs and photos. A video camera, where people can record their own oral reports of anything ranging from last week's school dance to how Burlingame Avenue used to look, is in the cards near the fireplace area.

A mystery room, where anyone can help the historical society identify some unknown people and artifacts in the collection of 125,000, is planned. Cohen is also continuing talks on securing a Caltrain storage area on the property for classic cars and other large historical items.

The museum should be a place for those to come and remember, as well as for those to come and discover,? Terrones said.

Anyone wishing to make contributions can send checks to the Burlingame Historical Society, P.O. Box 144, Burlingame, CA 94011. E-mail Russ Cohen at [email protected] for more information.

- Written by Constance

Broadway Grill on Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, Don Bleu of KIOI (Star 101) will broadcast from the Broadway Grill in Burlingame, giving away free breakfasts to all and actual prizes, like a night on the town (San Francisco, not Burlingame.)

The grub 'n' gab are at 1400 Broadway

(from SF Gate)

- Written by Fiona

Elementary School Bond Exploration

Burlingame schools exploring new tax (Heather's article in the Daily Journal)

Burlingame schools could be getting interior and exterior renovations in the near future as the elementary school district is slated to decide to hire a consulting firm to gauge the public's interest in funding a bond measure in November. The Burlingame Elementary School District began planning for the bond measure last year when it set aside $60,000 in this year's budget to fund the election expenses including a consultant, said Chief Business Officer Jing-Jing Wang. Only certain elections allow a school district to pass a bond measure with a 55 percent approval rating. This November being one of those elections, the district began planning early, said Trustee Marc Friedman.

Updates - Approving the consultant's contract would be the first step in preparing for the November election. It's been 10 to 15 years since any of the district's six schools had any updates, said Friedman. Buildings need repairs. Any homeowner can tell you that,? he said. Burlingame residents are already paying for two different taxes to support local public schools. In 2004, the voters approved a renewal of a $104-per-year parcel tax to support the Burlingame elementary and middle schools, said Wang. Measure S helps pay for teachers' salaries, books, libraries and other school staples. The tax will be collected through 2010.

Last year, voters approved a $298 million bond measure for improvements to the six schools in the San Mateo Union High School District including Burlingame High School. The measure costs $16 a year per $100,000 assessed value of homes within the district.

Facilities bond - Residents may also be faced with a $37 million bond option, which dedicates $35 million for storm drains and $2 million for recreation center improvements in the June election. The Burlingame City Council is scheduled to decide if it will go to the voters next week.

The board meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the district office 1825 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame.

- Written by Fiona

Sucking the Life out of the SMUHSD

$73 million in debt with little or no cash flow to make payments
Over $143 million of classroom funds will be used to repay this debt.
$73 million in debt was suppressed from the public during the $298 million Measure M bond campaign for fear that the bond would not pass.

$3.5 budget shortfall of the 2006-2007 school year
Financial reserves spent down to .25% (3% is standard)
Deficit spending for last 3 years
Teacher and staff lay-offs
District is under financial scrutiny from the County Office of Education

Formal complaint from the Public Employees Relation Board (PERB) for numerous unfair labor practices. These complaints may result in formal sanctions and penalties against the SMUHSD.

No contracts with either the CTA or CSEA employees.

95% of the members of the Teachers Association have affirmed a vote of No Confidence against Superintendent Sam Johnson and Asst Superintendent Ethel Konopka.

Library, support staff, and Special Education resources have been pillaged to pay for budget shortfalls.

How much is too much?
Is this a school district that is being run on the values of open communication, honesty, and ethics?

- Written by JC

Ignorance is Bliss

For the uninformed who think that though they may never have been affected by flood
water in Burlingame, some Burlingame residents have had a flooding problem: Please take the time to look at the photos at this link.

PS. My neighbor's house looked like an El Camino bus had flown over the rooftops of Burlingame and slammed into their house but it was water overflowing the creek and making a huge hole in the side of their home. The photo is on page 8.

- Written by Fiona

SMUHSD - Confidence Ebb(ing) Away

Mountain of cash - Column by John Horgan in San Mateo Times

WARY taxpayers in the San Mateo Union High School District have to be keeping their fingers crossed these days. The district's handling of financing aspects of projects related to a $137 million construction bond issue approved by voters in 2000 has been less than stellar. In a nutshell, by borrowing needed money to be repaid with anticipated revenues that didn't pan out as projected, the district is in a bind. Again.

Last week, its trustees considered a proposal to bundle the district's loans, trimming the first-year payment to $475,000. It is expected that the board members will vote on the arrangement March 8. But that's not all. The $137 million bond measure is not alone. Last November, the generous citizenry went even further. In an act of somewhat surprising faith, they voted to OK another massive district bond package, in spite of strong evidence of fiduciary fumbling. That one was for a whopping $298 million. So, now, the district and its officials are dealing with what amounts to a mountain of moolah, a grand total of $435 million. The figure especially when you factor in interest payments of perhaps $350 million or so is really quite stunning. And the question becomes: If the district's policy-makers found themselves flummoxed by the twists and turns of dealing with the first bond, what happens with the second one? Fortunately, the district is getting some help. The San Mateo County Office of Education is monitoring all of this very carefully. Thank goodness. The stakes and the public dollars involved are large. And confidence in the district's ability to deal with that pile of cash is ebbing away quickly.

CRESTMOOR HIGH Still on the subject of the high school district, it has been noted that one of the properties used as loan collateral has been Crestmoor High School. The San Bruno campus hasn't been used as a comprehensive secondary institution since 1980. The district hasn't made a concerted effort to sell off even a portion of the acreage for many years. But, if Crestmoor is collateral, then it must have value as real estate. Why else would a lender agree to the loan? Perhaps it's time to take another look at Crestmoor. In the past, San Bruno officials have opposed any development on the site. District Superintendent Sam Johnson has steadfastly indicated that Crestmoor is a resource he doesn't want to lose. But, who knows, maybe times and financial pressures have changed in this regard

- Written by Fiona

Measure H and Balancing those Fences

Letter in Burlingame Daily News - An issue of balance

Dear Editor: Lorne Abramson's analogy [Letters, Sunday] about splitting fence repair costs based on assessed value is compelling, and accurately demonstrates how many "new" property owners reacted after buying into California communities after the implementation of Proposition 13. On the surface, of course, it appears unreasonable and unfair that I should pay far more to replace the communal fence. But my neighbor reminds me that while he is retired on a fixed income, I will have many more years to reap the benefit of a new fence along with higher income-earning power. He also points out that it will not be too long before he sells his property to move into a retirement community. Ten years later, he sells to a developer who proceeds to demolish the existing home to construct a five-bedroom, five-bathroom minimansion, which goes on the market for many hundreds of thousands of dollars more than I paid for my home. Three years later, a storm damages our shared fence. Would you expect me to be content with a 50-50 shared replacement cost?

The bottom line: When someone says, "It's not fair," it merely underscores his inability to comprehend that balance, unlike fairness, is only achieved over time. Pat, Burlingame

- Written by Fiona

The SMUHSD must pay down its debt

An Ethical Solution to the SMUHSD Financial Mismanagement

Joel Montero, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team which specializes in fiscal analysis for school districts, said there are many red flags showing financial stress in the San Mateo Union High School District. Rising debt is becoming a problem among many school districts.

The San Mateo Union High School District will soon be selling bonds to raise $278 million approved by voters for school construction in Measure M. The district is also restructuring $73 million of Certificates of Participation (COP's) that were dubiously issued by the district to pay for additions? to its first bond, Measure D.

The total cost to finance and payback the $73 million will be $146,445,639.00. This is the amount that the students and parents of the SMUHSD are being forced to pay for the financial mismanagement of the district by the board and district leadership.

While the voters approved the $278 million for construction in Measure M, they did not approve the $73 million in COPS. At a conservative 4% interest rate, the district will pay out $73,445,639.00 in interest alone over the next 40 years. The interest and principal paid on this debt will have to come out of the district's General Fund and can therefore not be used for academic programs. This is a direct loss to students and families. The district's claim that it is using developer fee money to pay for the COP's does not reduce the impact on the classroom. These developer fees should be used for academic programs and bond monies should be used for construction. In short, the district has shifted General Fund money into capital improvements by going into debt.

If given the opportunity would the board approve taking $73 million away from classroom instruction so that it can shift these funds to construction? No. By going into debt, the board is doing just that, shifting classroom funds into construction and paying for it over the next 40 years!

The taxpayer's approved only $137.5 million in Measure D to rebuild the schools. These funds were not sufficient to cover the costs of reconstruction and the district acknowledged this fact when the bond was passed. In fact, the district later put Measure C on the ballot to amend Measure D so that funds could be used to cover the cost of the San Mateo High School demolition, an action not included in the text of the original bond.

Rather than stopping construction at $137.5 million and asking the public for more money, the SMUHSD went an additional $73 million into debt, using money from the general fund as a cash flow. In short, the district used funds intended for academic programs in order to rebuild schools. The district leadership and school board are trading the future educational opportunities of students in order to build buildings. They have traded substance for structure.

The public should demand that the San Mateo Union High School District School Board place an amendment to the last bond (Measure M) on the next ballot asking the public to restructure the use of the $278 million Measure M funds that were recently approved for construction. The amendment would allow the district to use funds to pay off the all or part of the $73 million COP debt incurred by the financial mismanagement of the district related to construction. This action will return $146,445,639.00 to the academic programs over the next 40 years.

By amending Measure M to allow for the payment of the COP debt the district will reduce its overall debt, increase its financial stability, raise its credit rating, and save the families of the SMUHSD $73,445,639.00 in interest and put $73 million back into the classroom over the next 40 years.

There isn't much riding on this decision, just the future of our school district and the education of our children.

- Written by JC