Long Beach School District vote on upgrade to high school

Tomorrow, registered voters who live in the Long Beach School District will vote on a $20 million bond to upgrade Long Beach High School.

It’s time to vote yes or no for the $20 million bond to upgrade Long Beach High School. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, registered voters who live in the school district will decide if paying higher property taxes is worth renovating Long Beach High School. Committee of Education and Excellence Chairperson Carol Paola said, “It’s worth the investment because if we are a community that does not support our schools, we will never have industry moving to this area. We won’t have additional families moving into our community.”

Plans for the high school include reducing the number of entry ways. Currently, the school has nearly 50 ways to enter. The renovations would reduce the ways to enter the school to four. Long Beach Principal Talia Lock says this is a safety issue. “Teachers inform us when someone is on campus. We have had that happen. It’s something that keeps me awake at night. I know it keeps our school board and our superintendent awake at night.”

The school was built in the 1950s so technology is outdated and some buildings are overdue for renovations. Long Beach High Assistant Principal Patrick Bennett said, “We do not have the electrical capability like some of the other schools. To be honest, we are maxed out on anything that can be plugged in.”

The school is currently paying off $4.5 million from two previous bonds. A similar bond was voted on in 2005, but was voted down. “In 2005, that bond issue lost by 30 votes. I think parents have realized if you look at the schools across our Coast and our state there are so many brand new buildings.”

“You come here and you realize the facility that we have and what we are lacking. I didn’t realize it until I started going to other campuses.”

If the bond passes, the final construction could be finished in late 2021. Sixty percent of the vote plus one is needed for the bond to pass.