Schools Chief Urges $3-Billion Bond Issue

SACRAMENTO — State Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig on Tuesday called for Gov. Pete Wilson and the Legislature to place $3 billion in state school construction bonds on the ballot next year to cope with school crowding that he said is reaching crisis proportions.

In his annual back-to-school news conference, Honig also urged the Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment, now facing a vote in the Assembly, that would allow a majority of voters in local school districts to approve construction bonds. At present, a two-thirds vote is needed.

Honig cited recent state Finance Department projections that California public school enrollment will grow from 4.8 million to 7.2 million by the end of the decade.