The Board of Education has placed a bond measure on the November ballot that, if passed, would generate nearly $180 million in funding to upgrade Alameda’s schools. As detailed in the most recent language, the money would be used for core needs such as “improving earthquake safety,” “improving heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems,” and “replacing leaky roofs.”

I am a retired teacher and professor who taught for 43 years at the junior high school, community college and university levels, mostly at Merritt College in Oakland and Berkeley City College in Berkeley (formerly Vista College). In all that time, I have never met a school bond approval or sales or parcel tax increase that I did not support and vote for — until now!