Lawrence school board candidates agreed Monday that a massive bond issue to improve public school facilities is inevitable.
"A bond issue is necessary," said candidate Kurt Thurmaier. "It's imminent."
Tune in to Sunflower Cable channel 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to see both forums.
Four candidates and two candidate representatives at South Junior High School for an election forum ticked off pressing facilities needs.
"We've got to get rid of portables," Thurmaier said, referring to dozens of small mobile buildings now in use as classrooms. "Permanent portables is an oxymoron that is absurd."
Candidate Linda Robinson said South had obvious deficiencies when she visited the junior high 30 years ago as a college student. The school's open classroom design has raised safety and security concerns.
"This is quite a challenge teaching with no doors and no walls," she said.
Lois Orth-Lopes, who spoke on candidate Leni Salkind's behalf, said Salkind understood broad inequities in school facilities required the board to turn to voters again for a bond issue.
"She knows there's a need to look at the big picture," Orth-Lopes said.
Candidate Nicole Rials said she would apply bond money to upgrade elementary schools. "I support action," Rials said. "We need to invest in children and schools."
Candidate Dale Vestal said all the campaign talk about improving schools shouldn't be forgotten after the April 3 election. The three people elected have a duty to complete a facilities study and a bond issue to finance improvements, he said.
"We cannot let these things die after the election," he said.
Robinson said the district would have an easier time gaining support for bond issues if the board did what it promised voters. She touched upon the purchase of a $4.1 million district administration headquarters and warehouse two years ago at 110 McDonald Drive.
Money from a $16.6 million bond issue was earmarked for a warehouse, but not an office building. "We need to do what we vote on," Robinson said.
Candidates Austin Turney and Salkind are at a school board conference in San Diego.
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