HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/19/2007 - STAFF REPORTS - 2.O. Measure F To Address District Facility Needs
When Palm Springs Unified School District voters cast their ballots in the February
5, 2008 presidential primary election, they will also be presented with "Measure E," a
District bond measure aimed at addressing many of the District's facility needs.
The Palm Springs Unified School District strives to provide the absolute best
education for the students in the District. Dedicated teachers, caring staff, involved parents
and adequate school facilities all play an important role in maintaining student success. As
District enrollment continues to increase, many District schools are overcrowded, and new
schools are needed.
Generally, District schools have been well maintained over the years with many
major renovations and improvements. The District has been very successful in securing
funding to aid in this process. To date, over $45 million has been received from the State
of California to help finance these renovations improvements. However, additional
classrooms and facilities need to be built to accommodate the District's increasing student
population, which is now over 24,000 and is estimated to be at 30,000 by 2013. There are
currently about 270 portable classrooms throughout the District.
Measure E is a$516 million General Obligation bond program for the Palm District
that, if passed, will address many of the District's facility needs throughout the District
including:
• Upgrading and renovating existing schools which will include replacing outdated
heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC)
• Making health and safety upgrades, including handicap accessibility improvements
and replacing fire alarm systems
• Constructing new schools to reduce student overcrowding
• Constructing permanent classrooms at the elementary schools to replace temporary
portable classrooms
By law, Measure E has taxpayer protections in place. If Measure E is passed on
February 5, 2008 the District must establish an independent citizens' oversight committee
to review the expenditure of all Measure E bond funds. Similar to a home loan, GO bonds
are typically repaid over 30 years. The repayment comes from a tax on all taxable property
- residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial - located in the District. The proposed
bond measure would translate to approximately $45 per $100,000 of assessed property
value. The median assessed value of homes within the District is $227,000.
Measure E would provide students in the District with up-to-date classrooms and
school facilities. In addition, passage of Measure E is expected to qualify the District for
approximately S 125 million in State-matching grants to help finance the proposed projects.
Information on the Bond election, the proposed facilities projects and the tax
repayment for the bond will all be included in your voter pamphlet. For more information,
call Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jim Novak at 416-6126.
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RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT OF THE PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL FACILITIES
IMPROVEMENT BOND (MEASURE E)
WHEREAS, the Palm Springs Unified School District ("District") operates fifteen
elementary schools, four middle schools, three comprehensive high schools, one
continuation high school, alternative education programs, eight headstarUstate
preschools, three full-day headstart programs, four childcare programs, and an
extensive adult education program; and
WHEREAS, the District's student population, which is now over 24,000, is estimated to
increase to 30,000 by 2013; and
WHEREAS, there are currently about 270 portable classrooms throughout the District;
and
WHEREAS, the District wishes to relieve overcrowding, reduce class size and repair
and upgrade its elementary, middle and high schools; and
WHEREAS, the District qualifies for $125 million in State-matching grants; and
WHEREAS, to receive these funds, the District must provide a local match. If not, these
monies will go to neighboring districts that can provide a local match; and
WHEREAS, the District has placed a School Facilities Improvement Bond (Measure E)
on the February 5th, 2008 Presidential Primary ballot to issue $516 billion in bonds to
qualify for state-matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the District plans to use the proceeds from this bond and to any grant funds
it receives from the state to upgrade and renovate existing schools, including replacing
outdated heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, make health and safety
upgrades, including replacing fire alarm systems and construct new schools to reduce
student overcrowding, construct permanent classrooms, at the elementary schools, and
to replace temporary outdated portable classrooms; and
WHEREAS, under state law, Measure E bond funds must be spent on school
construction, not on overhead; and
WHEREAS, the District plans to establish an independent citizens' oversight committee
to review the expenditure of all Measure E bond funds to safeguard against waste and
mismanagement.
ITEM NO. r.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Palm
Springs, California joins the committee Citizens for Excellent Schools in its strong
support of The palm Springs Unified School District School Facilities Improvement Bond
(Measure E) .
ADOPTED this day of 2007.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
By:
City Clerk Mayor
REVIEWED AND ADOPTED AS TO FORM:
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HANDOUT
PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
The following information is provided to assist voters in understanding the facts behind
the Palm Springs Unified School District's school improvement measure, Measure E, and
how its passage will affect the District and the community.
• Why is the District placing a school improvement bond measure on the ballot? The
Palm Springs Unified School District is severely overcrowded. In 1996, the District had
over 18,000 students. This year, the District has over 24,000 students, an increase of over
33% in the past 11 years. In addition, the District is projected to have more than 30,000
students by 2013, an additional 24% increase from the current enrollment. A local school
bond improvement measure would allow the District to relieve student overcrowding as
well as continue to improve existing school facilities.
• What is Measure E? Measure E is a $516 million general obligation (G.O.) bond
program. Measure E will appear on the February 5, 2008 ballot. Measure E is intended to
address the needs of a growing student population, such as the construction of new
elementary, middle, and high schools in the Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs area
to relieve student overcrowding. Other facility issues to be addressed through Measure E
measure include replacing temporary portable classrooms with permanent classrooms at
two schools in Palm Springs and at elementary schools throughout the District, and
purchasing land for the construction of new schools.
• What is a general obligation bond? G.O. bond funds are used to finance capital
projects such as the renovation of existing classrooms and school facilities, as well as
construction of new schools and classrooms. Similar to a home loan, G.O. bonds are
typically repaid over 30 years. The loan repayment comes from a tax on all taxable
property-residential,commercial, agricultural and industrial-located in the District.
• How can I be sure funds from Measure E will be spent on improving our school
facilities? As required by law, an independent citizens' oversight committee will be
established by the District to ensure that bond funds are properly spent. Also by law,
there must be annual audits of the expenditure of the bond funds and no bond money can
be used for teacher or administrative salaries.
• What about using State funds? With the passage of Measure E, the District is
expected to become eligible to receive approximately $125 million in State-matching
grants. However,under current law, districts must provide local matching funds in order
to receive any State school bond funds. By law, State lottery funds cannot be used for
construction or rehabilitation projects.
What will the passage of Measure E mean for our students and the community?
Measure E will provide students with a better learning environment by building new
schools to relieve overcrowding and making repairs and upgrades to existing classrooms
and school facilities; many of which are also used and available to the community such as
the libraries,playgrounds,and athletic fields.
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