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.”

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Many schools and community colleges are outdated and need repairs to meet basic health and safety standards and upgrade facilities to meet modern student educational needs– including science labs, improved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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