Go Steve!

And shame on Craig for implying that Steve is somehow trying to deny kids access to nice facilities. It's exactly the scare tactic that Craig and others use to try to squeeze more money out of residents without having to be accountable.

Steve is the voice of logic in a system run amuck with snake oil salesmen. You would think we would have learned with the way the board was the patsy for ex-Superintendent Ghysels.

For the past 50 years, schools have always tried to get more money to waste instead of just teaching children how to read and write. School administrators are bad managers and have no idea how to manage. I support Steve as he IS the voice of reason. Go Steve.

Nick, this court action, a writ, is only to prevent the Registrar from using the ballot 'question' language from the District. It asks to remove TWO MISLEADING WORDS, and then give the voters a chance to vote on the merits. The court action had to be filed on the 19th, According to a Lead Deputy County Counsel, this was the only way to do it.
I'm willing to do anything legal to get GREAT COMMUNITY PRIORITIES for spending $198 M. Why did Superintendent Goldman ask for a "replacement" District Office when there is only 42% of the money needed for the Student Facilities? Craig and Fiona were both on the staff Facilities Plan committee. When I very publicly asked Fiona to call me about delaying for a November Bond election - I ended up with that lament from a Stanford a cappella group, "Stanford girl ain't got no time for me". So now we are in a very public debate!

Nick and Tom at the MV Voice - A slightly more accurate headline would be to add " ... wording".
"Local man suing to block bond measure wording".

Thank you, Mr. Nelson, for taking a stand against tax and spend mentalities.

Excellent!!!

In addition to my property taxes, there are a dozen other assessments on my yearly bill already. Of course, MVWSD doesn't care if they make living here so expensive that the non-Google, middle class folks have to move away. In fact, they would no doubt appreciate it very much... I mean, fancy new buildings for district staff are clearly essential to the teaching of our children, and much more affordable for the 1% moving in to replace schmuks like me.

Mr. Nelson,

How many organizations you know off are willing to continue to operate in 50 year old buildings? The MVWSD office is a remnant of a Sixty's school. It might be comfortable, as it was refurbished in a limited way upon the school district merger. However, in case you've lost track, that was now A DECADE ago! The building is now functionally obsolete. How else should a school district replace a functionally obsolete building on land it owns? Since bond proceeds can't be used for operational expenses, where in the budget should we cut to rent empty space somewhere in Town? Visit some other local DO's and you will see a vast difference in working conditions. I think you are just in a HUFF (pun intended) that Ms Walker chose not to engage in this matter with you outside of her official role at a board meeting.

Merge all the school districts into one.

Eliminate all the overpaid administrators.

Teach the children!

Quit taxing us to death!

Thank you Steven Nelson!

Yet Another Steve:

Many homes in Mountain View are pushing 50 and we are still living in them. A new coat of paint and some new carpet and the district office will be good to go. Oh, wait, that was just done ten years ago? Wait another ten and then apply another coat of paint. All they do in there is push papers anyway.

Excellent point Clyde. My home is nearly 60 years old, and despite changes in technology, number of residents, etc. I have managed very nicely with periodic maintenace, to keep it working just fine. Surely in these poor economic times MVWSD could stretch the life of their DO, without the heed of 198M dollars.

Let me see Rex Manor Steve, HP moved into their world headquarters (is HP big enough for you?) in Stnford Industrial Park - Page Mill Road, in 1957. Is that corporate headquarters building old enough for you?
(actually, it's been a decade since I was on that campus) have they build a "replacement"? )
Maybe after "Student Facilities" (ie performing arts facilities) are finished - then a new District Office. But - that's my priority list, which may not match the Superintendent's!

First we had a superintendent that just wanted to chase skirts. Now we have one that just wants to spend money. How about just teaching the kids with pencil, paper, chalk and chalkboard? It never ends.

Have any of you folks complaining about building a new DO ever been inside the current one? It's a warren of cubes and cubbies and irregularly shaped offices (the main conference room is affectionately called the "Holodeck" because of its pentagonal? hexagonal? septagonal?) shape--a regular conference table doesn't fit in there. The other offices and cubes are similarly dysfunctional. It was originally built as one of those genius 60's style "open plan schools" that were popular at the time, but that you never, ever see any more (despite their prevalence in the late 60's and early 70's) because they are just simply not functional spaces. Bad design is bad design that cosmetics just can't help. Oh, and don't even get me started about the HVAC and temperature--but please take my word for it: dress for a summer heatwave and also bring a coat if you ever have to attend a meeting there--you'll be glad you did.

Ok MVMom, now tell us how any of that matters in terms of students learning and student achievement. The people in the district office are adults. They can handle it. Just like all those people living in Eichlers in Palo Alto.And there are plenty of students learning just fine in portables and other older buildings and you never here them complaining about it. Many students even live in homes much older and they too never complain.

Where is the millions of money from the lottery for these schools? Where is the money from the closing of the redevelopment institution?

Oh I forgot it's all gone to the Pension system, silly me.

We have been voting overrides and parcel taxes for years. In the '70s we had a superintendent tell us "you don't need to know what we need the money for" [words to that effect]. It took a long time to pass an override and set people up for prop. 13. [The override passed at the last possible vote.]

Mtn. View has voted for many tax increases and voted down many. Some may still be in effect and many are not. A bit of background would help complete the article; it's not too late Nick!

Comments like Mr. Goldman's have delayed acceptance of more than one bond issue.

there are plenty of mountain view school rented out... why not move back in those than tax the poor. where is robinhood when you need them?

Oh my goodness, if Steven Nelson is "the voice of reason" as Observer claims, this city is in much bigger trouble than any of you drama-commentors think.

Steve has made his rounds to the PTAs and neighborhood association meeting. The LAST thing he sounds like is the voice of reason.

john doe - Some of the people worried about no school in the Whisman/Slate neighborhood are concerned with just that. It is also expensive to build brand new classrooms, on currently used campuses, when there are structurally sound (class 1) school buildings on the Whisman site. I'm willing to do anything politically and legally responsible to deny Mr. Goldman $200 M of new public taxes on the TERMS he and the Board are proposing. - I like Barry Groves take on if we are now overextended as public education taxpayers - we Californians now pay about 1/2 the percent of income to education as we did under Governor Reagan.
Spend - but spend wisely.
I would gladly speak to any PTA (which I have not yet) or neighborhood association meeting!
I have only so far only spoken at a Rex Manor potluck lunch! I did speed before the Stevenson Foundation meeting - it was very interesting - a woman there INSISTED that Trustee Fiona Walter wanted to do a November bond.

Make all the administrators give up their cell phone and car allowances. That will save some money. If you itemized them each month, you realize these two allowances were just another form of boosted income.

Wow, what a blast from the past showing what a nut Nelson has been.

Sooo glad his term is running out

After a $225M RED INK bottom line start in June of 2012 ($423M-$198M, Plan-Revenue), the new MVWSD Administration is now in the process of finalizing a BLACK INK bottom line (master Budget Allocation Summary BAS).

"School Board faces harsh budget realities" I hope. (Oct 30, 2015 MV Voice)

SN is now a MVWSD Trustee, these are his opinions

You make no sense in your comment above. You may now be a MVWSD trustee but not for long. Come November it will be adios to you. thank goodness!

"by Nick Veronin / Mountain View Voice
Nelson said he is trying to throw a wrench in the spokes of the district's..."

Mission accomplished! (with apologies to Nick Vernon)

@OMG of Cuesta Park

"Oh my goodness, if Steven Nelson is "the voice of reason" as Observer claims, this city is in much bigger trouble than any of you drama-commentors think.

Steve has made his rounds to the PTAs and neighborhood association meeting. The LAST thing he sounds like is the voice of reason."

Well, OMG, I have to give you credit, you tried to warn us.