The following is the complete text of the Manteca Unified School District bond that voters will be before voters in the Nov. 4 election. The $159 million bond will cost property owners $60 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. So if your house is assessed at $300,000, it will add $180 a year to your property tax bill if the bond passes.
INTRODUCTION
MANTECA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SAFE AND MODERN CLASSROOMS MEASURE: To upgrade classrooms to meet modern academic, technology and safety standards: repair faulty electrical systems, air conditioning, leaky roofs, plumbing and restrooms; improve fire safety systems and school security; remove asbestos and lead paint; and repair, construct, and acquire educational facilities and equipment, shall the Manteca Unified School District issue $159 million of bonds at legal interest rates, with citizen oversight, annual independent audits, and no money for administrators’ salaries or pensions.
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 $159 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 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 XIIA, 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 San Joaquin 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 XIIA, 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 not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator’s 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 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, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and/or replacement of school facilities of the Manteca Unified School District, including the furnishing and equipping of such school facilities, located or to be located in the Manteca Unified School District at the following sites and properties:
Existing District Owned School Sites & Property
August Knodt Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary, Calla High School, Brock Elliott Elementary School, Mossdale Elementary School, East Union High School, French Camp Elementary School Neil Hafley Elementary School, Lathrop High School, George Komure Elem. School, New Haven Elementary School, Manteca Day School, Golden West Elementary, Rustic Elementary School, New Vision High School, Great Valley Elementary School, Sequoia Elementary School, Sierra High School, Great Valley Annex, Shasta Elementary School, So. Manteca High School, Ethel Allen Elementary School, Stella Brockman Elementary School, Weston Ranch High School, Joseph Widmer Elementary School Tara Elementary School, Adult Transition School, Joshua Cowell Elementary School, Veritas Elementary School, be.tech Schools, Lathrop Elementary School, Woodward Elementary School, District Office Facilities
School Facility Project List: The items presented on the following list provide examples of the types of projects to be financed at the above listed sites and properties with 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 are:
1. School Safety and Security Upgrades. Improvements, upgrades and/or repairs or replacements of District systems and facilities to achieve a safe, secure and accessible learning environment. Authorized projects include:
* Security and access control systems including surveillance systems, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, alarm systems and public address systems.
* Security fencing, security cameras, and site lighting
* Damaged or non-compliant playground equipment
* Failing pavement at playgrounds, walkways and parking areas
* Replacement/removal of old building materials that are now known to be toxic, such as due to asbestos and lead paint
* Existing facilities to achieve barrier-free ADA compliant access at all facilities
2. Repairing, upgrading and modernizing aging school facilities and buildings District-wide. Upgrades, repairs, renovations and/or replacements to facilities, buildings and building systems to replace or upgrade deteriorating, failed or failing facilities, systems and/or equipment, increase energy efficiency and/or air quality, bring systems into current code compliance and provide modern school facilities. Authorized projects include:
* Structural repairs and upgrades, roofing, replacement of windows, doors and building finish materials.
* Interior finishes: paint, ceiling and wall finishes, window coverings, flooring and casework
* Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
* Repairing inefficient and potentially faulty electrical systems
* Repairing or replacing infrastructure including water, sewer, gas and related utility systems
* Electrical systems, including lighting, power distribution and control systems and other renewable energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels.
* Plumbing including fixtures and repairs to sewer and water distribution systems
* Upgrading, modernizing, equipping and furnishing District classrooms, academies, facilities for fine and performing arts, and other facilities including kitchens, cafeterias, multi-purpose rooms and bathrooms, including constructing additional bathrooms where needed
*Replacement of temporary and aging portable classrooms that are expensive to repair and maintain
3. Technology and Science Modernization Projects. Acquire, upgrade and install at school sites and District facilities up-to-date technology infrastructure and equipment to facilitate a modern learning environment including upgrading and equipping science labs. Authorized projects include:
* Infrastructure such as wiring, switches, routers and wireless access infrastructure
* Computers, devices and other modern instructional equipment
* Hardware and software and back-up and recovery and security technologies
* Science and laboratory modernization, including science equipment and instructional tools.
4. Renovations, upgrades and improvements to school sites/grounds and physical education/athletic facilities. Repair, upgrade, renovate and improve school grounds, play fields and physical education facilities, including equipment. Authorized projects include:
* Restoration and upgrade of play fields and playgrounds, including play/fitness equipment and hardtop and asphalt surfaces.
* Installation of cost-effective, efficient landscaping and irrigation systems
* Installation of drought-resistant landscaping
* Repair, upgrade, replace and/or resurface, and equip physical education and athletic facilities, including outdoor tracks, gymnasiums, locker rooms, bathrooms and related facilities
* Installation of shade structures, traffic control devices, lighting and/or bleachers and other seating
* Parking facility improvements, including resurfacing, expansion and lighting
* Repair, modernize, replace or add bathrooms where needed.
5. Authorization of projects at existing school sites. Authorized projects include upgrading, expanding, replacing and/or constructing new facilities at existing school sites, including currently vacant school sites, as the Board of Trustees may determine is necessary to improve the delivery of the District’s educational programs and/or prevent overcrowding within the District, including facilities for fine and performing arts for school and community use, and including furnishing and equipping all such facilities.
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, 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, interim classrooms and facilities for students, administrators, and school functions, including modular facilities, 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.
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 will also pursue funds from the State of California to complete certain of the identified facilities projects.
The order in which school facilities projects are listed above does not suggest an order of priority. Project priorities will be determined by the Board of Trustees. The District is unable to anticipate all unforeseen circumstances which may prevent some of the projects listed above from being undertaken or completed.
