Local education and community leaders gathered at an elementary school Tuesday to support a $12 billion state bond measure that, if passed, could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to Kern school districts.

Proposition 55 is on the March ballot and would not raise taxes, but would take 30 years for the state to pay off.

Leaders from K-12 schools districts, business and Cal State Bakersfield spoke at Col. Howard Nichols School during a news conference to plug the bond measure.

Helen Collins, president of the Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association, said many students are attending rundown schools with leaky roofs and no air conditioning or heating.

"They can't learn and teachers can't teach in classrooms that are rundown," Collins said. "Our kids deserve better and we can't afford to wait."

The bond measure can potentially provide matching funds to districts with local bond money. Six Kern school districts have local bond measures on the March ballot, and many others already have bond funds from previously passed measures.

If Proposition 55 passes, it will be easier for districts to get their local dollars matched with state cash for building projects.

Sierra Sands Unified School District trustee Bill Farris said county schools have already qualified for $428 million in state matching funds for renovations and new schools, money that Proposition 55 could provide. Without out major upgrades, districts will pay higher maintenance costs later, he said.

"You either pay as much or more or you jeopardize the safety of our kids," Farris said.

The bond will be on the same ballot as the governor's proposed $15 billion bond measure that is seen as a way clear the state's budget deficit. Proposition 55's supporters said Tuesday they didn't believe having another measure on the ballot would turn voters against the school bonds.

"I don't think this bond measure is threatened if people understand what it's for," Farris said.

But Margie Ivens, a mother of four students at Nichols, said the state was already far enough in debt. She said she plans to vote against Proposition 55.

Nichols was one of the campuses in line for major renovations if money is made available.

"This is a nice school. I don't think this school needs any upgrades," Ivens said.

If Proposition 55 passes, the following are a few on a long list of Kern projects that would receive a portion of funding:

* Construction of a $19 million university math and computer science building at CSUB.

* Construction of two high schools in the Kern High School District.

* Repair and upgrade of 28 classrooms at Chipman Junior High in the Bakersfield City School District.

* Repair and upgrade of 17 classrooms at Nichols in BCSD.