Ramona school district inches toward bond bid

School board meets tonight at 7 in district office board room

By Maureen Robertson

Ramona Unified School District trustees are expected to approve a bond consultant to steer them in the direction of putting a bond measure on the November ballot.

Urban Futures Inc., the firm that worked with the district in its 2012 unsuccessful bid for a $66 million bond, is the consultant district staff and others who served on the interview panel recommend. Trustees Kim Lasley and Dawn Perfect, teachers union president Cori McDonald and Sun Valley Council PTA President Kristina Krohne were on the panel with the district superintendent, assistant superintendents and senior director of education services.

The 2012 bond bid failed by less than 4.5 percent of the required 55 percent yes vote.

With the exception of the cost of a voter survey, the consultant’s fees and expenses are contingent on voter

approval of the bond, according to the proposed agreement between the district and Urban Futures. Money from bond sales will pay for the firm’s pre-election services, states the proposal that trustees will review at their Feb. 13 meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. in the district office, 720 Ninth St.

Among proposal specifics are: Pre-election services will cost the district $35,000; a tracking poll, $5,000; financial advisory services, $75,000 for each series of bonds sold; disclosure services, $3,000 annually; and expenses, cost plus 5 percent, not to exceed $3,500 with written approval from the district.