FULL TEXT OF BALLOT MEASURE LP
To protect students from earthquakes, asbestos, lead paint and other safety hazards, enhance opportunities for career and academic success at schools, including Hawthorne, Lawndale and Leuzinger High Schools, shall the School Facilities Improvement District No. 2016-1 of the Local Public Schools Funding Authority issue $110 million in bonds, at legal rates, to modernize and construct schools, including classrooms, science labs and arts facilities, replace aging plumbing, electrical, and security systems, with mandatory audits and independent citizen oversight, ensuring funds stay local with no money for administrator salaries?
PROJECT LIST
The Board of Directors of the Local Public Schools Funding Authority, acting on behalf of the School Facilities Improvement District No. 2016-1 of the Local Public Schools Funding Authority, evaluated the District’s urgent and critical school needs, including school and student safety issues, enrollment trends, class size, high school overcrowding, energy efficiency and computer technology, school safety from gangs, crime and drugs, seismic safety requirements, and aging, outdated or deteriorating school buildings in developing the scope of projects to be funded. The Project List set forth below is an integral part of this measure.
Proceeds from the sale of bonds will be used for the following specific schools facilities projects, including the repayment of lease obligations which financed any of the following projects:
School Health and Safety, Earthquake Safety
and Energy Efficiency School Projects
– Remove or abate all asbestos, lead paint, mold and all hazardous materials.
– Upgrade fire alarm systems to automatic systems, repair fire safety equipment, add sprinklers and fire safety doors.
– Upgrade water system so there is safe drinking water on all campuses.
– Upgrade to schools to meet handicap accessibility requirements.
– Strengthen and repair older schools and classrooms vulnerable to serious damage in a major earthquake, as required by State law.
– Inspect for/repair gas pipe leaks.
– Install new security systems, such as security (surveillance) cameras, outdoor lighting, and classroom door locks.
– Replace/upgrade existing security systems.
– Fix school drainage systems to stop flooding during rain season.
– Install energy efficient systems.
– Replace existing window systems with energy efficient systems.
– Relocate or improve student drop-off areas for safety, including a separate area for buses.
– Inspect and improve play area fields for safety and drainage.
– Replace existing doors and doorframes.
– Add emergency exits for faster evacuation in an emergency.
– Upgrade school site parking, utilities and grounds.
– Repair termite damage to structures and doors/doorframes.
– Install pedestrian bridges, fencing and signage.
– All other construction, installation, and maintenance projects as needed for health and safety.
School Renovation, Repair and Upgrade Projects
– Replace existing wiring systems to meet current electrical and accessibility codes and increased capacity and allow computers in classroom.
– Additional electrical service capacity to relieve currently overloaded electrical systems.
– Replace existing water, sewer and plumbing systems to meet current codes, including the elimination of lead-containing fixtures.
– Upgrade aging and deteriorating school restrooms.
– Replace older heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems with building code compliant, energy efficient systems.
– Install code-compliant ventilating systems in restrooms.
– Provide improved, upgraded computer labs.
– Upgrade and equip classrooms, science labs, multipurpose rooms, physical education facilities, kitchens, auditoriums, libraries, arts and music rooms, childcare, preschool, adult education and educational support spaces.
– Classroom interiors will receive new paint, carpet/vinyl tile/asbestos abatement, white marker boards, tackable surfaces, storage-for instructional materials and equipment.
– Repair, upgrade and replace worn-out leaking roofs.
– Federal and State-mandated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades including site access, parking, staff and student restrooms, relocation of some existing electrical devices.
– Replace old, portable classrooms.
– Repair aging schools.
– All other projects for the renovation, repair and upgrade of deteriorating, outdated school buildings, cafeterias and food services facilities, gymnasium and athletic facilities, performing arts facilities, science labs, classrooms, computer learning centers and school libraries and equipment.
Wiring and Instructional Technology
For Effective Learning Environment Projects
– Upgrade and expand electrical systems, telecommunications, Internet and network connections, so all classrooms can have computers.
– All other projects for the installation, repair and upgrade of modern technology infrastructure to improve current instruction methods and to expand job training programs.
Childcare and After-School Facilities Projects
– Development and acquisition of facilities and equipment to offer training to students for jobs in health, engineering and other professions.
– Remodel and improve existing childcare and after-school program facilities.
– Upgrade technology used in job training programs.
New Construction, Development and Joint Use Projects
– Construction, development and acquisition of multi-purpose rooms, gymnasium and athletics facilities, media centers, visual and performing arts facilities, cafeterias and food services facilities, staff and student bathrooms, storage, educational support spaces, classrooms and classroom buildings, and parking lots for staff and visitors.
– Construction and development of additional electrical service capacity.
– Construction, development and acquisition of joint-use facilities which may include libraries, child care centers, multi-purpose rooms, aquatics center, gymnasiums and athletics facilities, media centers, visual and performing arts facilities, and health care facilities.
– Construction, development and acquisition of facilities for administrative offices, adult education and vocational training.
– Site demolition and grading as necessary for construction and development of facilities.
The projects listed above will be completed as needed. Each project will include its share of architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, program/project management, staff training expenses and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. In addition to the projects stated above, proceeds from the sale of bonds will also be used for payment of facility related construction costs which have been determined to be owed by the Authority, the Improvement District, or the District, as applicable, judicially or by mediation, arbitration or settlement, the acquisition of land, the acquisition and releasing of pool facilities, the remodeling of administrative support spaces, the payment of the costs of preparation of all facility planning, facility assessment reviews, facility master plan updates, environmental studies (including environmental investigation, remediation and monitoring) and construction documentation, the acquisition or prepayment of outstanding ground leases, acquiring and leasing of real property for school facilities, including the purchase of leased facilities and the refinancing of outstanding lease obligations, including, but not limited to, the refinancing of Centinela Valley Union High School District’s Certificates of Participation, (2012 Capital Projects), acquiring and leading of property for temporary housing of dislocated Authority, Improvement District, or District activities caused by bond projects and the leasing or acquisition of a transportation lot for school buses.
The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the Authority, the Improvement District, or the District, as applicable, receipt of State matching funds and the final costs of each project. Approval of Measure LP does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Authority, the Improvement District, or the District that are the subject of bonds under Measure LP will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure LP. The school district’s proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. In the absence of State matching funds, which the Authority, the Improvement District, or the District, as applicable, will aggressively pursue to reduce the Authority’s, the Improvement District, or the District, each as applicable, share of the costs of the projects, the Authority, the Improvement District, or the District, respectively, may not be able to complete some of the projects listed above. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the Authority’s, the Improvement District’s, or the District’s, control. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids 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 of Directors of the Authority 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 Authority, the Improvement District, or the District, as applicable, for the cost of staff when performing work on or necessary and incidental to bond projects.
Projects financed with bond proceeds will be subject to oversight of a professional construction/program management firm.
As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only for the provision of school facilities by construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease or real property for school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited to a special fund and the Assistant Superintendent, Business Services of the District as applicable, will annually file a report with the Board of Directors of the Authority, which report shall contain information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of the projects listed in the ballot measure.
The Authority’s Board will conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been expended only on the project list set forth above.
The Authority’s Board will conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for the school facilities projects.
Pursuant to Section 15772 of the Education Code, the Authority’s Board will appoint a citizens oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that funds are spent only on school and classroom improvements and for no other purposes. No employees or vendors of the Authority, the Improvement District, or the Districts shall be allowed to serve on the citizens oversight committee.
NO ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BONDS AUTHORIZED BY THIS PROPOSITION SHALL BE USED ONLY FOR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, OR REPLACEMENT OF DISTRICT FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF FACILITIES, AND NOT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING PENSIONS, TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES.
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE EXPENDITURE OF BOND MONEY ON THESE PROJECTS IS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS. BY LAW, PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDITS WILL BE PERFORMED ANNUALLY, AND ALL BOND EXPENDITURES WILL BE MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (EDUCATION CODE SECTION 15278 ET SEQ.) TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE SPENT AS PROMISED AND SPECIFIED. THE CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MUST INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATIVES OF A BONA FIDE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND A SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATION. NO EMPLOYEES OR VENDORS OF THE AUTHORITY, THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, OR THE DISTRICTS ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THE CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
