Bonds

Why now? 

District staff work hard to maintain our neighborhood schools and keep them in good working condition with limited resources. However, the types of upgrades that our internal assessments have identified go far beyond the scope and means of regular school maintenance budgets. Many of our schools are 50 to 60 years old and have never fully been renovated. An ongoing investment in infrastructure is critical to help ensure safety and academic success for every child attending our schools.
 

Yes. Our local schools strive for teaching and learning excellence in every educational setting. Our goal is to provide all students with access to the education they will need to be successful in college, jobs, and careers after they graduate from high school. Safe, modern school facilities and educational technology are essential to maintaining quality schools and giving our students a competitive edge. As school facilities are improved, teachers and students will benefit.

Voters in the West Covina School District have not voted on a school facility bond measure in 16 years. The last bond was for $40 million. It addressed safety concerns, such as replacing outdated electrical components and other items no longer in compliance with building codes. Basic technology needs were also addressed. We are now focused on the facility improvements most essential to student safety, protecting your investment in local schools, and enabling student success.

Our school district makes every effort to use resources wisely. However, with limited help from the state and minimal renovations to our campuses for 50 to 60 years, the burden is growing to adequately repair and upgrade our school facilities. We need to work together to protect the quality of our education system. To that end, WCUSD is exploring all options, by leveraging available maintenance and energy efficiency funds, to ensure quality school facilities for the future.

WCUSD maintenance and operations staff work hard to keep local schools safe and inadequate working condition. Historically, the District has kept pace with needed fire safety and critical, time-sensitive facility repairs. However, and particularly in the areas of school safety and security, the current scope of upgrades needed in WCUSD far exceeds our State-allocated budget for meeting such needs.

Unfortunately, the money WCUSD receives from the Lottery each year comprises less than 2% of our annual General Fund Budget. We use these funds to purchase textbooks and other instructional materials. Proposition 30 funds, approved by California voters in November 2012, restored earlier classroom cuts – but did not provide any new funding that our local schools need for repairs and modernization.

If approved by voters, Measure ES would be paid by property taxes estimated to not exceed $60 per $100,000 per year of assessed valuation (not market value) or about $163 per year for the typical homeowner for as long as bonds are outstanding.