fresno elections 2008

Central Unified School District is asking voter approval for $152 million in bonds to renovate facilities, build classrooms and schools and qualify for state matching funds for facilities. The measure requires 55% of the vote to pass.

• Full text
• Projects

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CENTRAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CENTRAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ORDERING AN ELECTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF SCHOOL BONDS, ESTABLISHING SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ELECTION ORDER, AND REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH OTHER ELECTIONS OCCURRING ON
JUNE 3, 2008

RESOLUTION NO. 07/08-34

WHEREAS, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Central Unified School District (the “District”), it is advisable to call an election to submit to the electors of the District the question whether bonds of the District shall be issued and sold for the purpose of raising money for the acquisition and improvement of real property, and the furnishing and equipping of school facilities; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the approval of Proposition 39 on November 7, 2000, Article XIII A Section 1 paragraph (b) of the California Constitution (“Article XIII A”) provides an exception to the limit on ad valorem property taxes on real property for bonded indebtedness incurred by a school district approved by fifty-five percent (55%) of the voters of the district voting on the proposition; and

WHEREAS, the Board is specifically authorized, upon approval by a two-thirds vote of the Board, to pursue the authorization and issuance of bonds by a fifty-five percent (55%) vote of the electorate on the question whether bonds of the District shall be issued and sold for specified purposes, pursuant to Education Code Section 15264 et seq. (the “Act”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10403 et seq. of the California Elections Code, it is appropriate for the Board to request consolidation of the election with any and all other elections to be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, and to request the Fresno County Registrar of Voters (the "Registrar") to perform certain election services for the District;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CENTRAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:

Section l. Call for Election. The Board hereby orders an election and submits to the electors of the District the question of whether general obligation bonds of the District shall be issued and sold in the maximum principal amount of $152,000,000 (“the Bonds”) for the purpose of raising money to finance school facilities and property of the District, and paying costs incident thereto, as set forth more fully in the ballot proposition approved pursuant to Section 3. This Resolution constitutes the order of the District to call such election.

Section 2. Election Date. The date of the election shall be June 3, 2008, and the election shall be held solely within the boundaries of the District.
Section 3. Purpose of Election; Ballot Proposition. The purpose of the election shall be for the voters in the District to vote on a proposition, a full copy of which is attached hereto and marked Exhibit “A”, containing the question of whether the District shall issue the Bonds for the purposes stated therein, together with the accountability requirements of Article XIII A and the requirements of Section 15272 of the Act. As required by Elections Code Section 13247, the abbreviated form of the measure to appear on the ballot is attached hereto and marked as Exhibit “B”. The Superintendent or her designee is hereby authorized and directed to make any changes to the text of the proposition as required to conform to any requirements of Article XIII A, the Act or the Registrar.

Section 4. Authority for Election. The authority for ordering the election is contained in Section 15264 et. seq. of the Education Code and Section l, paragraph (b), subsection (3) of Article XIII A. The authority for the specification of this election order is contained in Section 5322 of the Education Code.

Section 5. School Facilities Projects. As required by Article XIII A, the Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the list of school facilities projects set forth on Exhibit A.

Section 6. Covenants of the Board upon Approval of the Bonds by the Electorate. As required by Article XIII A and Section 15278 of the Act, in the event fifty-five percent (55%) of the voters in the District approve the issuance of the Bonds, the Board shall:

(1) conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the Bond proceeds have been expended only on the projects listed in Exhibit A;

(2) 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 listed in Exhibit A; and

(3) establish and appoint members to an independent citizens’ oversight committee in accordance with Sections 15278, 15280 and 15282 of the Act.

Section 7. Delivery of this Resolution. The Clerk of the Board is hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, the Registrar, and the Fresno County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

Section 8. State Matching Funds. The District hereby requests that the Registrar include the following statement in the ballot pamphlet, pursuant to Section 15122.5 of the Education Code:
“Approval of Measure “E” does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Central Unified School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure “E” will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure “E”. The District’s proposal for the project or projects assumes the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.”

Section 9. Consolidation of Election. The Registrar and the Fresno County Board of Supervisors are hereby requested to consolidate the election ordered hereby with any and all other elections to be held on June 3, 2008, within the District.

Section 10. Ballot Arguments; Tax Rate Statement. Any and all members of this Board are hereby authorized to act as an author of any ballot argument prepared in connection with the election, including a rebuttal argument. The Superintendent, President of the Board, or their designees, are hereby authorized to execute any Tax Rate Statement or other document and to perform all acts necessary to place the bond measure on the ballot.

Section 11. Accountability Measures. As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, a statement in substantially the following form shall be included on the ballot for the Bonds, and the Board covenants to comply with the reporting requirements contained in Section 53411 of the Government Code:

Accountability Measures

As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, the following accountability measures are hereby made a part of the District’s Bond Measure “E” (the “Measure”):

a) The specific purpose of the bonds is set forth in the Full Text of the Measure;

b) The proceeds from the sale of the District’s bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure, and not for any other purpose;

c) The proceeds of the Bonds will be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the Fresno County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code; and

d) The Superintendent of the District shall file an annual report with the Board of Trustees of the District, commencing not later than June 3, 2009, and annually thereafter, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the projects listed in the Measure.

Section 12. Term of the Bonds. The Bonds shall mature not more than 40 years from their issue date.

Section 13. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect on and after its adoption.

* * * * * * * *

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of March, 2008, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

Diana Milla
President of the Board of Trustees
Central Unified School District

ATTEST:

Cynthia Berube
Clerk of the Board of Trustees
Central Unified School District

I, Cynthia Berube, Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Central Unified School District, Fresno County, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the Resolution passed and adopted by said Board of Trustees at a regular meeting on the 4th day of March, 2008, and that the minutes of said Board of Trustees shows that _________(___) members of said Board voted for and _________(___) members of said Board voted against the adoption of said Resolution and the said Resolution is now spread upon the minutes of said Board.

Cynthia Berube
Clerk of the Board of Trustees
Central Unified School District

EXHIBIT A

BALLOT MEASURE
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE

“To replace outdated heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems to improve energy efficiency, upgrade classroom technology, replace aging portables, renovate restrooms, improve school security, acquire property, build classrooms and schools to avoid overcrowding, providing students access to comparable school facilities, and qualify for state matching funds, shall Central Unified School District issue $152 million in bonds at legal interest rates with annual audits and independent citizens’ oversight and no money for administrator’s salaries?

As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, and not for any other purpose, such as teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

Central Unified School District
Bond Project List

The District intends to complete the following projects, using a combination of bond funding and other anticipated sources, including State matching funds.

The Central Unified School District will use bond funds for the following school facility projects:

All School and District Sites
Improve instructional technology/campus security/communications systems
Act in accordance with accessibility and code compliance regulations

New Schools
Acquire, construct, equip and furnish two new elementary schools, one middle school and one high school on property previously acquired by the District or to be acquired, including all related site improvements and facilities

Biola-Pershing Elementary School
Renovate Library Media Center
Construct multipurpose building
Install/upgrade school security fencing and gates
Improve/expand physical education playfields, hardcourts and sidewalks
Install drinking fountains
Provide new sound system
Improve student drop off/expand school parking

Harvest Elementary School
Improve physical education playfields
Provide marquee signage
Enhance school parking lot security

Herndon-Barstow Elementary School
Renovate Library Media Center
Construct multipurpose building
Provide potable water to kindergarten wing
Upgrade/provide additional restrooms
Improve/expand physical education playfields
Expand/renovate student support spaces

Houghton-Kearney Elementary School
Renovate Library Media Center
Construct new cafeteria
Upgrade restrooms
Improve campus security lighting
Improve/expand physical education playfields
Improve student drop off/school parking
Repair hardcourt surfaces
Provide irrigation system

Norman Liddell Elementary School
Renovate/reconfigure Library
Improve school security lighting
Improve/expand physical education playfields, hardcourts and shade structure
Improve school parking lot
Provide marquee signage and sound system
Enhance classroom and school exteriors

Madison Elementary School
Construct Library Media Center
Upgrade restrooms
Upgrade communications system
Renovate cafeteria
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking
Expand student support spaces
Improve/expand physical education playfields/athletic facilities
Expand student support spaces

McKinley Elementary School
Enhance classroom and school exteriors
Upgrade heating/ventilation and air conditioning systems
Expand student support spaces
Upgrade restrooms
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking
Improve/expand physical education playfields
Provide drinking fountains
Improve/expand hardcourt surfaces
Upgrade communications system
Provide irrigation system
Renovate cafeteria

James K. Polk Elementary School
Provide additional portable classroom
Improve/expand physical education/athletic playfields and equipment
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking
Provide shade structures

River Bluff Elementary School
Improve/expand physical education playfields
Provide shade structures
Upgrade communications systems
Provide marquee signage
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking

Roosevelt Elementary School
Renovate/replace portable classrooms
Renovate Library Media Center
Upgrade heating/ventilation and air conditioning systems
Upgrade restrooms
Expand student support spaces
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking
Improve/expand physical education playfields/athletic facilities
Improve/expand hardcourt surfaces
Add equipment storage space

William Saroyan Elementary School
Renovate/replace portable classrooms
Upgrade heating/ventilation and air conditioning systems
Improve school parking lot security
Provide drinking fountains
Improve campus security at school office entrance

John Steinbeck Elementary School
Upgrade heating/ventilation and air conditioning systems in portable classrooms
Improve campus security lighting
Improve campus security at school office entrance
Renovate library and computer lab
Provide shade structures
Improve/expand physical education playfields/athletic facilities
Add equipment storage space

Teague Elementary School
Renovate/replace portable classrooms
Upgrade restrooms
Improve/expand physical education playfields/athletic facilities
Provide irrigation system
Expand student support spaces
Add equipment storage space
Improve parking lot and campus security
Improve/expand hardcourt surfaces

El Capitan Middle School
Renovate/replace/relocate portable classrooms
Add permanent classrooms
Upgrade restrooms
Improve campus security lighting
Reconfigure campus layout
Upgrade irrigation system
Improve/expand physical education/athletic facilities
Improve/expand hardcourt surfaces

Rio Vista Middle School
Expand/enhance multipurpose room
Expand school parking
Improve/expand physical education/athletic facilities
Enhance parking lot security
Improve campus hardscape

Central High School East Campus
Construct gymnasium
Improve campus security lighting
Enhance campus appearance
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking

Central High School West Campus
Renovate classrooms
Provide new classrooms, labs and cafeteria/kitchen
Renovate/replace portable classrooms
Upgrade heating/ventilation and air conditioning systems
Enhance campus safety/appearance
Improve campus security
Improve/expand physical education/athletic facilities
Improve/expand student drop off, school parking
Renovate/expand student support spaces
Upgrade irrigation system
Upgrade communications system
Reconfigure campus structures library/cafeteria/classrooms
Reconstruct and relocate tennis courts

Central Learning Adult School Site (CLASS)
Improve campus security
Enhance campus appearance
Improve/expand school parking lot
Construct teaching lab building

Pathways Community Day School
Construct new facility

Pershing Continuation High School
Construct new facility

District Service Center
Construct new facility
Provide compressed natural gas fueling station for school buses

The District’s Board of Trustees has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the foregoing list.

The District’s Board of Trustees will conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been expended only on the project list set forth above.

The District’s Board of Trustees 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 District’s Board of Trustees 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.