HART SCHOOL DISTRICT AWAITS FATE OF PROP. 39 HART OFFICIALS MAY TRY ANOTHER BOND MEASURE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Having lost two school-construction bond measures despite winning more than 65 percent of the vote, the Hart district is watching Proposition 39 on Tuesday's ballot and making initial plans for another bond campaign.

Officials with the William S. Hart Union High School District said they would be likely to make another attempt at a bond if Proposition 39 passes. Proposition 39 calls for reducing the voter approval needed for school bonds from 66.6 percent to 55 percent.

``Considering that the last two missed by less than one-tenth of 1 percent on a 66 percent approval ratio, if Proposition 39 passed, we would feel more confident of its success,'' said Steve Sturgeon, a member of the school board.

It would limit bond money to repair, construction or replacement of school facilities and classrooms. And it would require a group of local citizens to be formed to monitor the expenditures for each measure bond approved.

Proposition 39 supporters say it would help schools build needed facilities by reducing votes needed to pass a bond measure.

Opponents to Proposition 39 argue the super-majority passage requirement is needed to ensure property owners' taxes don't skyrocket.

``We would love to see this pass,'' said school board member Sturgeon. ``It's difficult when one-third of the people control what two-thirds want.''

Last November, the Hart district lost a $52 million school construction bond campaign by about 31 votes after the district paid for a recount.

In March of 1999, a bond measure failed by less than one-tenth of 1 percent.

Hart district Superintendent Bob Lee said the outcome of Proposition 39, along with district's recent application for state hardship funds, would determine how the district proceeds with facility needs.

Under the proposition, new bonds could be put on the ballot only during a general election.

``Our capital needs are great,'' said the superintendent, whose campuses are all filled beyond capacity. ``With or without the passage of that, we're going to have to continue to look at and analyze the ability to provide classrooms, and part of that analysis is going to be local support in the form of local bond measures,'' Lee said.

``The most recent two times around has been disheartening. We have been able to meet the majority but not the super-majority.''

It's been 25 years since voters approved a special tax for Hart district schools. The last bond ended in June.

The district recently applied for hardship funding from the State Department of Education to help build new schools.

With the hardship funding request, state officials would conduct an audit of the district's existing resources and determine how much money Hart would have to contribute.