Dear Superintendent Garcia, President Horner and Vice President Northrup-Gadus,
As you know, the proposed bond measure resolution discussed late Thursday night, May 28, received only three affirmative votes. Five votes were required for approval.
Several of your trustee colleagues correctly observed that the district had not conducted sufficient community engagement regarding a new bond measure so they voted “no.”
This outcome should not have been a surprise.
For months, members of the public repeatedly requested transparency regarding any plans for a bond measure or parcel tax. Those requests were ignored.
Despite the absence of any public discussion establishing board support, the district proceeded to hire consultants and spend public funds on polling and related services. The district has not even been transparent about the total cost of these efforts despite Trustee Gardiner’s request for costs.
All we know (from consultant Dale Scott) is the polling alone cost $25,000.
On multiple instances at public comment and in my Feb. 12 letter to the Morgan Hill Times, I specifically urged the district to determine whether a two-thirds majority of the board supported pursuing a bond measure BEFORE spending taxpayer dollars on consultants.
Trustee Altman likewise warned that obtaining a two-thirds vote would be required to pass a Prop 39 bond.
Yet you ignored such warnings and instead wasted countless tens (or perhaps hundreds) of thousands of dollars that could have been used for teachers.
Unfortunately, this reflects a broader pattern. The district continues to withhold basic financial information from the full board and the public, including non-contract spending.
You violate the Brown Act with non-compliant agendas. You don’t comply with key provisions of the California Public Records Act. You deny the public’s right to add agenda items to the board meeting as provided in the Education Code and your own board policies. I could go on.
The failed bond measure vote was not the result of bad luck. It was the predictable consequence of pursuing a major tax proposal without first securing board consensus or meaningful public engagement.
Taxpayers deserve better fiscal stewardship, greater transparency and compliance with the laws.
Chris Robell
Morgan Hill
