Willits Unified School District

Measure G - 55% Approval Required

WILLITS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

FULL TEXT OF MEASURE G

INTRODUCTION

In order to:

• Repair aging classrooms and school facilities,

• Fix deteriorating roofs, plumbing, heating/cooling, and electric systems,

• Improve student safety and security,

• Upgrade, acquire, construct, and equip classrooms, labs and facilities supporting college and career readiness,

Shall the Willits Unified School District measure authorizing $17 million in bonds at legal rates be adopted, with estimated levies of 4¢ per $100 assessed value (approximately $900,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with citizen oversight and money staying local?

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this measure by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the measure, the District will be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $17 million in aggregate principal amount at interest rates not to exceed legal limits and to provide financing for the specific types of school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List included below, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below.

ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The provisions in this section are specifically included in this measure in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely.  Expenditures to address specific facilities needs of the District will be made in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following.)

Evaluation of Needs.  The Board of Trustees has identified detailed facilities needs of the District and has determined which projects to finance from a local bond.  The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List included below.

Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee.  Following approval of this measure, the Board of Trustees will establish an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, under California Education Code Sections 15278 and following, to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the types of school facilities projects listed below.  The committee will be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Trustees.

Performance Audits.  The Board of Trustees will conduct annual, independent performance audits to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed below.

Financial Audits.  The Board of Trustees will conduct annual, independent financial audits of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed below.

Government Code Accountability Requirements.  As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, (1) the specific purpose of the bonds is set forth in this Full Text of the Measure, (2) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in this measure, and not for any other purpose, (3) the proceeds of the bonds, when and if issued, will be deposited into a building fund to be held by the Mendocino County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code, and (4) the Superintendent of the District shall cause an annual report to be filed with the Board of Trustees of the District not later than January 1 of

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each year, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the projects listed in this measure, as required by Sections 53410 and 53411 of the Government Code.

NO TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure shall be used only for the purposes specified in Article XIII A, Section 1(b)(3), those being for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or  replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, and the acquisition or lease of school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

State Matching Funds

The following statement is included in this measure pursuant to Education Code Section 15122.5:  Approval of this measure does not guarantee that the proposed projects that are the subject of bonds under this measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this measure.  The District's proposal for the projects described below may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which, if available, could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

INFORMATION ABOUT ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS INCLUDED IN BALLOT

This measure authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the types of projects set forth on the Bond Project List set forth below, to be repaid by tax collections for the years that bonds are outstanding.  The measure presented to District voters on the ballot, as set forth above under the heading “INTRODUCTION”, includes information regarding the expected approximate amount of money to be raised annually to pay issued bonds, the estimated rate of the approved tax per $100 of assessed valuation, and the year through which it is approximated that the proposed tax will be levied and collected.  Each of these estimates and approximations are provided as informational only.  Such amounts are estimates only, and are not maximum amounts or limitations on the terms of the bonds or the tax rate or duration supporting repayment of bonds.  The approximations are estimates provided depend on numerous variables which are subject to variation and change over the term of the District’s overall facilities and bond financing plan, including but not limited to the amount of bonds issued and outstanding at any one time, the interest rates applicable to issued bonds, market conditions at the time of sale of the bonds, when bonds mature, the timing of project needs and changes in assessed valuations in the District.  As such, while such estimates and approximations have been provided based on information currently available to the District and its current expectations, such estimates and approximations are not limitations and are not binding upon the District.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The Bond Project List below describes the specific types of projects the Willits Unified School District proposes to finance with proceeds of the bonds.  Listed projects will be completed as needed at a particular school site according to Board-established priorities, and the order in which such projects appear on the Bond Project List is not an indication of priority for funding or completion.  The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed.  Certain construction funds expected from non-bond sources, including State grant funds for eligible projects, have not yet been secured.  Until all project costs and funding sources are known, the Board of Trustees cannot determine the amount of bond proceeds available to be spent on each project, nor guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects.  Completion of some projects may be subject to further government approvals or appropriation by State officials and boards, to local environmental review, and to input from the public.  For these reasons, inclusion of a project on the Bond Project List is not a guarantee that the project will be funded or completed.

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Unless otherwise noted, the projects in this Bond Project List are authorized to be completed at all District sites, as shall be approved by the Board of Trustees.  The types of projects authorized by this measure are:

• Repair deteriorating roofs, plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems
• Provide modern science labs and career training facilities

·         Remove hazardous materials, including asbestos and lead paint, from older school sites

·         Create modern, multi-use classrooms to support hands-on science instruction

·         Modernize classrooms and other school facilities to support instruction in math, science, engineering, technology, music, visual and performing arts and other subjects

·         Improve access to school facilities for students with disabilities

·         Upgrade older school facilities to meet the same academic and safety standards as newer schools

·         Replace aging portable classrooms with modern permanent classrooms

·         Construct new classrooms and facilities to replace deteriorated school buildings

·         Improve student safety and campus security systems, including security fencing, communication systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers

The listed projects will be completed as needed.  Each project is assumed to include its share of furniture, equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, program/project management, State agency approvals, staff training expenses and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs.  In addition to the listed projects stated above, the list also includes the acquisition of a variety of instructional, maintenance and operational equipment, including the reduction or retirement of outstanding lease obligations and interim funding incurred to advance fund projects from the list; installation of signage and fencing; payment of the costs of preparation of all facility planning, facility studies, assessment reviews, facility master plan preparation and updates, environmental studies (including environmental investigation, remediation and monitoring), design and construction documentation, and temporary housing of dislocated District activities caused by construction projects.  In addition to the projects listed above, the construction, repair and renovation of each of the existing school facilities may include, but not be limited to, some or all of the following: upgrade of facilities for energy efficiencies; repair and replacement of windows, walls, doors and drinking fountains; installation wiring and electrical systems to safely accommodate computers, technology and other electrical devices and needs; upgrades of support facilities, physical education/athletic facilities and maintenance yards; construction or renovation of multi-use facilities; repair and replacement of fire alarms, emergency communications and security systems; resurfacing or replacing of hard courts, turf and irrigation systems and campus landscaping and play fields; improve access to school site; install interior and exterior painting and floor covering; demolition; and construction of various forms of storage and support spaces, bleachers, kitchens, repair, upgrade and install interior and exterior lighting systems.

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project.  The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District’s control.  Certain projects may be undertaken as joint use projects in cooperation with other local public or non-profit agencies if State matching funds are received.  The final cost of each project will be determined as plans and construction documents are finalized, construction bids are received, construction contracts are awarded and projects are completed.  Based on the final costs of each project, certain of the projects described above may be delayed or may not be completed.  Demolition of existing facilities and reconstruction of facilities scheduled for repair and upgrade may occur, if the Board determines that such an approach would be more cost-effective in creating more enhanced and operationally efficient campuses.  Necessary site preparation/restoration may occur in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, utility lines, trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property.  Proceeds of the bonds may be used to pay or reimburse the District for the cost of District staff when performing work on or necessary and incidental to bond projects and the costs of issuing the bonds.  Bond proceeds shall only be expanded for the specific purposes identified herein.  The District shall create an account into which proceeds of the bonds shall be deposited and comply with the reporting requirements of Government Code § 53410.

The Bond Project List shall be considered a part of

this ballot proposition, and shall be reproduced in any

official document required to contain the full statement

of the bond proposition.