DESERT HOT SPRINGS - Proponents of Prop. 55 gathered at a local school to campaign for the passage of a bond measure that could supply $12.3 billion for school construction statewide.

The "Yes on 55" campaign, backed by the Californians for Accountability and Better Schools, brought out a teacher, a parent, a member of the Palm Springs Unified School District's board, a College of the Desert dean, and a local businessman to stump for the measure at Edward L. Wenzlaff Elementary School.

Organizers, who have been criss-crossing the state promoting the measure, said Thursday's rally is the only such event scheduled for the Inland area. The bond proposal is on the March 2 ballot.

Patti Hanson, a member of the Menifee Union School District's board and a representative of the state parent-teacher association, said passage of the proposition was necessary for the future of the state.

"The state has an obligation to fix our schools," Hanson said. "We need to make investing in our children's futures a top priority."

Don Aikens, a member of the Palm Springs Unified School District's board; Rick Post, dean of applied science and business at College of the Desert; and Genny Smith, president of the Palm Springs Teacher's Association, also spoke on behalf of the proposition.

Lew Piper, a certified public accountant and local businessman, said the business community should see the proposition as an "economic boost" to the state.

"We can't afford to let it fail," Piper said.

While no organized opposition group is fighting the measure, detractors, like State Sen. Rico Oller, R-San Andreas, said in his argument listed on the ballot measure that "this measure would dig us deeper into a financial hole."

Interest on the $12.3 billion bond would total more than the bond itself - $12.4 billion.

Rally organizers saidWenzlaff Elementary School was targeted because of its antiquated structure.

Principal Scott Otteson said the school was built 25 years ago.

A remodel and new construction at the school will cost $3.5 million.

The Palm Springs school district hopes to gain an additional $31 million that would be used to build a fourth high school and a new K-8 school.

"We're kind of next in line for improvements," Otteson said. "They'll put in a Head Start building and bring kids into kindergarten prepared with some preschool experience."

The K-5 school, which holds about 840 students, could also receive new carpeting and remodeled bathrooms for disabled children.

Desert Sands Unified School District, after passage of the bond measure, could receive about $58 million for two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, plus two schools could be remodeled.

The Palm Desert campus of Cal State San Bernardino could also receive $1.38 million for improvements, such as a 250-seat theater, laboratory and lecture space and a 30-station computer lab.