This [Friday, March 11] morning the State Board of Education unanimously approved our debt limit wavier application. Our item was moved to the consent calendar. No one objected or asked that it be taken off the consent calendar. West Contra Costa Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bruce Harter was in attendance, along with a few other staff members.

What this means is that we can move ahead with all of our projects for Measure D and do all of the work that has been promised to the community. The board approved an increase of our bonding capacity to 5% and allows us to issue at this rate for the next ten years. This will allow us to raise all of the 380 Million authorized by the voters last June as part of the bond measure election. Additionally, we are now able to capture over a 100 Million in State matching revenue for our program. This one is now officially done!

Thanks everyone for having confidence and faith in my abilities. We had a lot of naysayers at this time last year when the board first started on this odyssey. Now one year later, the bond has passed and we are able to build our schools over the next several years. What a great testament to cooperation and hard work. Yes, Ohlone Elementary, Coronado Elementary Leadership/Gompers, Portola Middle School, Pinole Valley High School, Stege Elementary, El Cerrito High School Phase II fields project and the plethora of other projects that are part of this massive bond measure.

Now is the time for all of us to just soak up the moment and take time to recognize that our generation has left a lasting legacy for the children of West County. Thanks everyone for your hard work and dedication and to the voters, a big round of applause. We could not have done it without their faith and confidence in us. I am humbled.

Enjoy the balance of your day.

Charles T. Ramsey, Esq.
School Board President
West Contra Costa
Unified School District