Ballot question

Carpinteria Unified School District Repair, Safety and College/Career Readiness Measure.

To improve schools, attract and retain quality teachers, and prepare students for college and careers by repairing deteriorating classrooms, bathrooms/leaky roofs, removing asbestos and lead paint, upgrading electrical wiring and classroom technology, repairing, constructing, acquiring educational facilities, sites/equipment, shall Carpinteria Unified School District issue $90,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, requiring annual independent audits, citizens’ oversight, no money for administrators’ salaries or pensions, and all funds used locally?

Project list

The full text of the proposed bond measure included these excerpts from the project list:

RENOVATION, REPAIR AND UPGRADE PROJECTS

• Repair or replace leaky roofs, worn out floors.

• Repair deteriorating plumbing, ventilation and heating systems.

• Upgrade classrooms, science labs, libraries, career-training facilities and computer systems to keep pace with changing technology.

• Repair and modernize outdated, deteriorating classrooms and school buildings.

• Upgrade classrooms and science labs so that they comply with current standards.

• Replace aging, outdated portables with permanent classrooms that meet 21st Century health, safety and academic standards.

• Add electrical wiring capacity so that it can handle modern instructional technology.

• Add/upgrade classrooms, science building, labs and school facilities to prepare students for careers and college, and attract and retain quality teachers.

• Upgrade vocational and career training classrooms, labs and equipment.

• Improve access for disabled persons.

• Repair deteriorating bathrooms.

STUDENT SAFETY

• Upgrade fire safety systems including fire safety doors, smoke alarms and detectors to make students safe in the event of an emergency.

• Modernize schools and classrooms to improve access for students with disabilities.

• Upgrade and install new security systems, such as classroom door locking systems, security lighting, fencing, smoke detectors, and fire alarms and sprinklers.

• Replace aging, outdated portables with permanent classrooms that meet 21st Century health, safety and academic standards.

• Repair leaky roofs.

• Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint from older school sites.

• Retrofit classrooms to meet current earthquake safety standards.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY – RETURNING SAVINGS TO THE CLASSROOM

• Install energy efficient systems including efficient lighting and solar systems, to save money and protect the quality of instruction in core subjects like reading, math, science, engineering and technology.

• Replace older heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems with building code compliant, energy efficient systems which will save money, allowing the District to attract and retain quality teachers.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND WIRING PROJECTS

• Upgrade instructional technology in the classroom for improved student learning.

• Provide and maintain up-to-date technology, data and communication equipment.

• Upgrade and expand wireless systems, telecommunications, Internet and network connections, upgrade electrical wiring.

• Provide improved, up-to-date technology infrastructure.

What is the Measure U Bond?

Measure U was approved in November 2014 by voters authorizing Carpinteria Unified School District to issue $90 million in general obligation bonds for facilities improvements.

Why is Measure U necessary?

The overall goal of Measure U is to improve facilities throughout the District. The newest structures are almost 50 years old, with many buildings over 80 years old.

Although some improvements have been made over the years, the District does not have adequate resources to replace or adequately renovate these aging facilities. We must also keep pace with advancing technology. Part of our responsibility to the community is to maintain quality school facilities; good schools protect property values.

From a physical standpoint, 50 years without significant investment in our facilities has burdened our operational budget with excessive maintenance cost for leaky roofs, aging bathroom plumbing, and out of date lighting and HVAC systems. Updating our buildings to today’s energy and building codes will provide substantial annual savings in taxpayer money.

Thanks to the generosity of voters and the passage of Measure U, CUSD now has funding to address these needs. Most importantly, savings in operational costs can be redirected into instructional programs, directly benefiting students.

How is the Measure U Bond funded?

The Measure U Bond is funded by property tax assessments.

How much will this cost the typical homeowner?

These bonds are funded by property owners at a rate of $47 per $100,000 per assessed valuation. We expect the bond terms to be 20-25 years.

What is the Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?

The Facilities Master Plan (FMP) is a planning document that lays out the facility improvements and new construction needed to improve Carpinteria’s public schools and better serve our students. It is a twenty-year plan through 2035.

How is the FMP developed?

The FMP was developed over an 18 month period with solicited input from the CUSD staff, parents, School Site Councils and community members through the Superintendent’s Facilities Committee. The FMP was adopted June 10, 2014 by the CUSD Governing Board.

Where can I review the FMP?

Download this PDF version of the plan.

What are the School District's most critical needs?

Upgrade classrooms, libraries, science labs and computer system infrastructure to keep pace with advancing technology and energy efficiency. Repair basic infrastructure such as roofs, restrooms, fire and safety systems, flooring. Our newest campuses were built in the 1960’s. The oldest were built in the 1930’s. Replace aging portable classrooms with permanent classrooms. All 63 portable classrooms on campuses are in either poor or failing condition. Prepare students for college and careers with a new science wing and a new design and engineering classroom at Carpinteria High School.

How can I be sure that funds will be used strictly for facilities?

All bond funds must be spent locally for school facilities and cannot be used for administrators’ salaries. In addition, bond funds are subject to a strict bond oversight committee.

What is a Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC)?

The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) shall inform the public/community concerning the CUSD expenditure of bond proceeds. The CBOC shall review expenditure reports produced by the District to ensure that bond proceeds were expended only for purposes set forth in Measure U and no bond proceeds were used for teacher or administrative salaries or other operating expenses.

Who are the citizens appointed to the BOC?

Please see the CBOC Members page.

What is a Site Committee?

Each school site has formed a Site Committee. A Site Committee consists of 5-7 people and includes the Principal, Teacher, Classified Staff, Parent and a Student. The function of the committee is to meet regularly and to provide input and feedback to facilities staff and the architects on goals, priorities and scope decisions as they relate to projects. Learn more.