INTRODUCTION
“To modernize and construct additional classrooms and support facilities to reduce overcrowding, replace portable classrooms and older schools with new permanent facilities, increase student access to computers and modern classroom technology, improve student safety, and qualify for State matching grants, shall the Calexico Unified School District be authorized to issue up to $45 million in bonds at legal interest rates, with an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, annual audits, and no money for administrator salaries?”
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 $45,000,000 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 described 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 in compliance with the requirements of Article XlllA, 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 School Board has identified detailed facilities needs of the District and has determined which projects to finance from a local bond. The School Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List shown below.
Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Following approval of this measure, the Board of Trustees will establish an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, under 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 School Board.
Performance Audits. The School Board 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 School Board 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 Imperial 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 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 project or 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 project or 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.
BOND PROJECT LIST
Scope of Projects. Bond proceeds will be expended on the modernization, renovation, expansion, acquisition, construction/reconstruction, rehabilitation, and/or replacement of school facilities of the Calexico Unified School District, including the furnishing and equipping of such school facilities, at all existing and future school, support and administrative sites of the Calexico Unified School District. School Facility Project list. The items presented on the following list provide are the types of projects to be financed with voter-approved bond proceeds. Specific examples included on this list are not intended to limit the generality of the broader types of projects described and authorized by this measure.
The types of projects authorized to be financed District-wide are:
- Acquire, construct, and modernize classrooms and related facilities to accommodate student enrollment and implementation of the District’s educational program
- Replace portable classrooms with permanent classroom facilities
- Modernize existing teaching facilities and classrooms to accommodate modern classroom instruction
- Replace classrooms, reconfigure classrooms and facilities, and provide furnishings, fixtures, and equipment to meet current teaching standards and requirements
- Upgrade fields, play courts, and athletic and performance spaces for school and community use
- Update science labs, aging bathrooms, assembly spaces, emergency communication systems, and technology infrastructure
- Retrofit classrooms with energy efficient air conditioning, heating, and safety systems to reduce overall costs and improve the classroom learning environment for students and teachers
- Improve circulation and parking and reconfigure drop-off and pick-up areas at schools to enhance student safety and reduce neighborhood traffic delays
- Construct, create, and expand vocational classrooms and career technical facilities
- Upgrade and integrate information technology infrastructure for new and modernized facilities and expand the use of digital technologies in the classroom
- Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.)
- Perform necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling
All or portions of these projects may be used as joint-use projects within the meaning of Section 17077.42(c) of the Education Code (or any successor provision).
Each of the bond projects described in this Bond Project List include the costs of furnishing and equipping such facilities, and all costs incidental but directly related to the specific projects described above. Examples of such costs include, but are not limited to: costs of design, engineering, architect and other professional services, inspections, site preparation, utilities, landscaping, construction management and other planning and permitting, legal, accounting and similar costs; independent annual financial and performance audits; a customary construction contingency; demolition and disposal of existing structures; rental or construction of storage facilities and other space on an interim basis for materials and other equipment and furnishings displaced during construction; costs of relocating facilities and equipment as needed in connection with the projects; interim classrooms and facilities for students, administrators, and school functions, including modular facilities; federal and state-mandated safety upgrades; addressing unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization and other necessary improvements required to comply with existing building codes, including the Field Act; access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act; costs of the election; bond issuance costs; and project administration during the duration of such projects, as permitted by law.
The scope and nature of any of the specific projects described above may be altered by the District as required by unforeseen conditions that may arise during the course of design and construction. Projects authorized by this measure providing for upgrades, replacement, modernization and/or improvements include new construction, acquisition, expansion, replacement, reconfiguration and/or rehabilitation, as deemed in the best interests of the District by the District Board. In the event that a modernization or renovation project will result in higher costs than relocation and construction, this bond measure authorizes land acquisition, relocation and reconstruction, and all costs relating thereto, for said reasons or based on other considerations deemed in the best interest of the District by the Governing Board. In addition, this measure authorizes the acquisition of interests in real property including necessary rights of way and easements, and joint use projects with other public entities or nonprofits. In addition, authorized projects include paying and/or prepaying interim financing which may be or have been obtained for said projects such as bond anticipation notes, and includes prepayment of financing lease payments to vest title in the District.
Approval of the District’s bond measure does not guarantee that all of the identified projects within this Bond Project List will be funded beyond what can be completed with local funds generated by the bond measure. The District plans to pursue funds from the State of California, if available, to complete certain of the identified facilities projects. In addition, the issuance of bonds pursuant to this measure depends in part on the assessed valuation of properties in the District and as a result issuance may require approval from the State Department of Education for a waiver of the District’s bonding capacity.
The order in which school facilities projects are listed in the Project List does not suggest an order of priority. Project priorities will be determined by the Governing Board. The District is unable to anticipate all unforeseen circumstances which may prevent some of the projects listed above from being undertaken or completed.