Tag Archives: school finance

ICYMI: Prop 51 invests in tomorrow’s students

By Modesto Bee Editorial Board  |  October 13, 2016

“…The bond issue would make $3 billion available in state matching grants for new school construction. More important to communities that have seen declines in student populations, it would provide $3 billion for districts to renovate, update and modernize older schools. There’s money for charter schools, community colleges, and technical education programs.

Don’t doubt the need is dire. A Modesto City Schools study put the district’s capital facilities needs at $1 billion. That’s probably vastly overstated, but the need is clear. So is the need for modernization on most campuses.

Too many Valley districts are forced into choosing between making repairs keep students safe and investing in the updates and innovations that will prepare students for 21st-century jobs. By necessity, those choices veer toward safety and away from a better future.

If Proposition 51 passes, 24 school districts in Stanislaus, south San Joaquin, and Tuolumne counties will be eligible to benefit. In Merced and Mariposa counties, another eight districts will be eligible. Combined, it could mean $149 million in new facilities for the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

In Stanislaus County, there are six school bond measures on the ballot this November; all will make a good case for matching funds if Proposition 51 passes.

…Both the California Democratic and Republican parties endorse Proposition 51 along with the California Chamber of Commerce, California Labor Federation, and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

We can never be certain our legislature will ever get around to helping us prepare for the students we are certain will be arriving. Vote yes on Proposition 51; California’s 6.2 million students are depending on it.”

Read the full article here at The Modesto Bee website.

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Proposition 51 invests in California’s students of tomorrow | The Merced Sun-Star

BY THE MERCED SUN-STAR EDITORIAL BOARD | October 13, 2016

From Los Angeles to San Francisco to Sacramento and back again, public policy officials have been wailing over California’s housing shortage and resulting high prices.

Median-priced California homes cost $469,000. More Californians rent than do residents of any other state except New York. Even a parking space in San Francisco costs $500 a month. The law of supply-and-demand insists a building boom is imminent. If the past is a prelude, that boom will echo throughout the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Consider: a house payment in San Francisco consumes 95 percent of a resident’s median income. But in Merced County it’s only 40 percent. In Stanislaus County it’s 44 and San Joaquin 51. We’ve always been a magnet for Bay Area families seeking affordable housing; when the next wave arrives, many will have children in tow. And those children will need schools.

Which brings us to Proposition 51.

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Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement from State Treasurer Chiang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Contact: Erin Shaw
October 12, 2016                                                                                             

Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement From State Treasurer Chiang

Today, the Yes on Proposition 51 campaign announced that California State Treasurer John Chiang has endorsed the state school facilities bond on the November ballot. Proposition 51 will provide new bonding authority to help districts bring school facilities up to basic and health safety standards, complete major renovations to aging facilities like seismic retrofits and the removal of hazardous material and build new schools where needed.

“Our kids deserve schools where they can be safe and succeed,” said Chiang. It’s been 10 years since we passed a statewide school bond, and Prop 51 will repair and upgrade older schools, relieve classroom overcrowding and make sure all schools meet basic health and safety standards. It is the right way to repair and upgrade schools while protecting taxpayers.”

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Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement From the California State Assembly Speaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   Contact: Erin Shaw
October 10, 2016                                                                                             

Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement From the California State Assembly Speaker 

Today, the Yes on Proposition 51 campaign announced that California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D- Paramount) has endorsed the state school facilities bond on the November ballot. Proposition 51 will provide new bonding authority to help districts bring school facilities up to basic and health safety standards, complete major renovations to aging facilities like seismic retrofits and the removal of hazardous material and build new schools where needed.

“Our schools desperately need Proposition 51 to fix and update aging schools. Vote on Proposition 51 to make sure we can continue to serve our students and teachers by providing quality teaching and learning environments,” said Speaker Rendon. “Without matching state grant funds, many schools across California will shelve repairs, renovation and improvement projects, or face astronomical increases in local taxes and fees that would be devastating to our schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Join me in supporting our kids and educators for better and safer schools.”

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Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement from Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Contact: Erin Shaw
October 6, 2016                                                                                                916.930.0100

YES ON PROP 51 CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER
LOS ANGELES MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA

LOS ANGELES, CA —The Yes on Proposition 51 campaign today announced that former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has endorsed the measure and will be barnstorming California to promote the need for this state school facilities bond.

“Our children deserve a learning environment free from asbestos, lead paint, and classrooms with properly working air conditioners, heating units, and functioning ventilation systems,” Villaraigosa said. “With an over $2 billion backlog of crucial repairs and upgrades, our children can’t wait anymore. Schools need to be up to basic health and safety standards.”

He said that polls show voters heavily supportive of the measure once they are made aware of its provisions.

“The goal from now until November 8 is to communicate to voters, especially those in the Latino community, about the value, need and broad bipartisan support for this measure,” he said. “I appreciate the opportunity to offer my assistance in promoting this truly critical school bond to California voters.”

Prop 51 will provide $9 billion in matching state grant funds to help local districts bring school facilities up to basic and health safety standards, and complete such major renovations to aging school buildings as seismic retrofits and the removal of hazardous material like asbestos or lead pipes. It also authorizes the construction of new schools were needed to relieve overcrowding.

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Los Angeles Times – Capitol Journal

School Bonds Used to be as Controversial as Mom & Apple Pie

Not Anymore Under Governor Jerry Brown

By George Skelton | October 3, 2016

It’s a sign of our contentious times and California’s contrarian governor that people are even bickering over routine state school construction bonds.

Selling state bonds to help local districts build new schools and modernize old ones used to be about as controversial as motherhood and apple pie. No longer.

Practically everything these days seems politically divisive.

Proposition 51 on the November state ballot is a low-profile issue for most voters, one of those wonky eye-glazers. But behind the scenes, the ballot initiative has stirred turmoil, mainly because of Gov. Jerry Brown.

Brown is bothered by the whole state school bond system. He thinks it’s too favorable to large and financially stable districts and is unfair toward smaller and poorer ones.

That’s vintage Brown. He tends to give middle-class districts short shrift and prioritizes spending on disadvantaged schools. That’s apparently a holdover from his early monk life as a Jesuit seminarian.

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Yes on 51: A Boost for Public Schools

Yes on 51: A Boost for Public Schools

By The Press Democrat Editorial Board  |  October 1, 2016

“…Proposition 51, a $9 billion bond act on the Nov. 8 ballot, is an opportunity to improve facilities for students in public schools and community colleges, including those here in Sonoma County.

…Tom Torlakson, the state’s school superintendent, said the alternative to Proposition 51 is diverting “precious funding away from teaching and learning activities,” and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce says the initiative is critical to completing local school projects.

…Here in Sonoma County, at least five school districts and Santa Rosa Junior College have construction projects in progress after voters approved local school bonds in recent elections. Six local school districts have bond measures totaling $340 million on the Nov. 8 ballot. State bond money could stretch those local dollars further.

…Local voters have been generous with public schools, and there would be opportunities to leverage those dollars if the state’s fund for construction and repairs is recharged. With that in mind, The Press Democrat recommends a yes vote on Proposition 51.”

Read the full article here at The Press Democrat website.

To learn more about this vital measure, please visit YesOn51.com.

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Yes On Proposition 51 Launches TV Ads

The Yes On Proposition 51 campaign today launched two television advertisements that highlight the broad and diverse support of the measure. Proposition 51 is a state school facilities bond that will help school districts repair and renovate aging school facilities and build new classrooms.

The 15-second spots focus on the support Prop 51 has garnered from the California State PTA, the California State Firefighters Association, and the California School Nurses Organization. The ads feature school nurse Phuong Tran, RN, and 2014 California Teacher of the Year Tim Smith. The ads will begin airing today in four regional media markets: San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Bay Area.

“Nothing is more disheartening than teaching students when our classrooms are falling apart and don’t provide access to student’s basic academic needs. To help students succeed, Proposition 51 will repair outdated and deteriorating schools and upgrade classroom technology, libraries, and computer and science labs,” said Florin High School teacher Tim Smith, the 2014 California Teacher of the Year.

Both spots can be viewed below:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH
(School Nurse)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH
(CA Teacher of the Year)

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Yes on 51: San Diego County schools need state funds

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

By Lorena Gonzalez & Brian Maienschein

September 29, 2016

San Diego is the second most populous county in California, and yet — somehow — seems like we often are shortchanged when it comes to getting our fair share of state or federal funding for services that are critical to our community. However, we have an important opportunity this November to make certain that doesn’t happen when it comes to school facilities. Proposition 51 is a measure that will make sure San Diego County schools get badly needed resources to maximize taxpayer investment in school facilities and create safe, effective teaching and learning environments for students. Currently, school districts raise local funds to repair aging schools or build new classrooms to reduce overcrowding and then apply for matching grant funds from the state to maximize local taxpayer dollars. The matching state grant program provides up to 50 percent of funds to be used for eligible new school facility projects and up to 40 percent of renovation projects. This partnership between districts and the state has successfully revitalized older school facilities and built new schools in communities since 1998.

Currently, school districts raise local funds to repair aging schools or build new classrooms to reduce overcrowding and then apply for matching grant funds from the state to maximize local taxpayer dollars. The matching state grant program provides up to 50 percent of funds to be used for eligible new school facility projects and up to 40 percent of renovation projects. This partnership between districts and the state has successfully revitalized older school facilities and built new schools in communities since 1998. Even more importantly, the partnership between local communities and the state has helped lower wealth school districts
create the same quality facilities as those that serve wealthier neighborhoods.

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Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement from the California School Employees Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Contact: Erin Shaw
September 29, 2016                                                                                         916.930.0100

Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement from the California School Employees Association

Today, the Yes on Proposition 51 campaign announced that the California School Employees Association has endorsed the state school facilities bond on the November ballot. Prop 51 will provide new bonding authority to help districts bring school facilities up to basic and health safety standards, complete major renovations to aging facilities like seismic retrofits and the removal of hazardous material and build new schools where needed. The California School Employees Association is the largest classified school employees union in the United States, representing more than 230,000 school support staff throughout California who members perform a wide range of essential work in public schools and community colleges.

“Representing more than 230,000 school support staff throughout the state, the California School Employees Association and our members know firsthand that too many school districts cannot afford to build new schools to accommodate enrollment growth or complete major renovations to older schools without state funds. That is why it is vital to pass Proposition 51 so that districts can continue to pair local dollars with state grant funds to meet facilities needs,” said Ben Valdepeña, Association President.  “A number of California counties are anticipating enrollment growth and one third of all schools are more than 50 years old. We need to pass Proposition 51 to ensure school districts are getting the resources promised to create safe, clean and updated environments for students and staff.”

To date, Prop 51 has received the endorsements of Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the California Taxpayers Association, the California Chamber of Commerce and 18 local chambers of commerce, elected officials from both sides of the aisle, both the California Democratic and Republican state parties, and more than 170 school districts. The full list of endorsements can be found here.

Because the last statewide school facilities bond was passed by California voters in 2006, there currently is a backlog of almost $2 billion in K-12 project applications and almost $500 million in priority community college projects. There is a pressing need to act now. With estimates projecting that K-14 schools will need $20 billion over the next decade to complete renovations and build new schools where there is growth, Prop 51 will provide $9 billion in matching state grant funds to help school districts meet future needs.

Many schools and community colleges are outdated and need repairs to meet basic health and safety standards and upgrade facilities to meet modern student education needs– including science labs, improved school technology, and facilities that support career technical education programs in both community colleges and K-12 schools.  Prop 51 will help make sure local schools are updated and safe for students.

For more information on Proposition 51, visit www.YesOn51.com.

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