Pass: 23696 / 64.1% Yes votes ...... 13250 / 35.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition may be used by the District only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of its school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of its school facilities, acquisition, or lease of real property for its school facilities and construction management by District personnel.

The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, cannot exceed 12% per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than 25 years after the date of bonds issued pursuant to the Education Code or not later than 40 years after the date of bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code. Principal and interest on the bonds would be paid by revenue derived from an annual tax levied on taxable property within the District in an amount sufficient to pay the interest as it becomes due and to provide a fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity.

California Constitution Article XIII A exempts from the one percent property tax rate limitation ad valorem taxes to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for the acquisition or improvement of real property, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, when approved by 55% of the voters if: (a) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are used only for the purposes specified, (b) the District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded, (c) the District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and (d) the District will conduct an annual, independent financial audit. If a bond measure is approved by 55% of the voters, state law requires the governing board of the District to establish an independent citizens' oversight committee. The District has made this ballot proposition subject to these requirements.

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the Cajon Valley Union School District to issue and sell $156,500,000 in general obligation bonds.

A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the Cajon Valley Union School District to issue and sell $156,500,000 in general obligation bonds.

Providing quality educational programs and facilities is a District priority, as demonstrated by our 16 schools that have received California Distinguished School Awards-the State's top honor.

While our schools have been well maintained over the years with many renovations and improvements, our work is not done. The average age of schools in the District is 40 years, and 8 schools are more than 50 years old.

Your support on Proposition D will improve school facilities by:

• Modernizing classrooms and facilities to increase energy efficiency

• Upgrading electrical systems to improve student access to computers and technology

• Renovating and constructing classrooms and facilities, including libraries and gymnasiums

• Improving student safety by installing additional fencing, security alarms and monitoring systems

• Qualifying the District to receive millions in State-matching grants

• All spending will be annually audited and reviewed by an independent citizens' oversight committee

• Funds can only be spent to improve schools-not for administrative salaries

DEBBIE COMSTOCK
El Cajon Citizen of the Year

KIRK L. GENTRY
Chairman of the Board
El Cajon Community Development Corporation

B.W. (STONEY) STONE
Businessman

PAUL RUSSELL, Ed. D.
Founder, Christian Youth Theater & Christian Community Theater

LANI LUTAR
, President & CEO

San Diego County Taxpayers Association

• Apparently Big Government advocates think that there are only three circumstances when we should increase property taxes.

  1. When property values are rising.
  2. When property values are stable.
  3. When property values are declining.

• You'd think that there's a shortage of revenue - that somehow we taxpayers are not paying our "fair share." But the truth is that government revenue streams are growing nicely WITHOUT new taxes being levied or raised. Compared to other states, our state and local taxes are quite high already.

• It's become a cliche, but it is still true - we don't have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem! That being said, do we need to again raise taxes for education - issuing more school bonds? No!

• Apparently this massive $156,500,000 bond measure will not build a single new school - presumably because student enrollment is probably stagnating, or even declining. Can anyone recall when such a large bond issue has ever been proposed to provide so little benefit?

• Probably 90% of private schools in San Diego County charge less tuition than what we taxpayers are now spending on public school students. Usually a LOT less.

• Yet these private schools obviously do a good job. Otherwise the parents wouldn't be paying for private education that their kids could get free at government schools.

• The LAST thing we need to do is throw even more money into public schools. It's time for bureaucrats to better utilize the money that we ALREADY spend on education.

Please vote NO! on Prop D.

For more information, contact Kim Gubala Gubala@cox.net phone 858-395-8816

KIMBERLY GUBALA
El Cajon Homeowner

RICHARD RIDER
Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters

EDWARD TEYSSIER
Chair, San Diego Libertarian Party

MICHAEL S. METTI
Businessman

This proposition may be known and referred to as the Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District General Obligation Bond of 2008, or Proposition D.

FINDINGS

The Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District (the "District"), which serves the community of the city of El Cajon and portions of unincorporated San Diego County, is a recognized leader in providing top quality education to San Diego County students.

The achievements have been accrued by the District as a result of the long history of visionary leadership from the Board of Education of the District (the "Board"), as well as from staff members, parents, and members of the District communities. During its long history, the District has benefited from a community, which supports its educational institutions by establishing high standards for academic achievement while at the same time providing the means required to meet and even to surpass those expectations.

Bostonia Elementary, the oldest District school, has been serving students and the community for more than 65 years.

In order to provide our local students with the same classrooms and school facilities as other California school districts, major repairs, upgrades, and classroom construction are necessary to ensure these buildings will remain functional for future generations.

The Board has prepared a facilities plan and identified significant repairs, upgrades, and classroom construction needs that are more than the District is able to fund from currently available sources or annual revenues.

The District has sought, and continues to seek, all available outside sources of funding to improve our school buildings, including local, state, and federal grants and state bond funds. Historically, the state requires that local school districts provide local funds as a condition of receipt of state matching funds.

To maximize community benefit and efficiently apply taxpayer dollars, the District will demonstrate a good faith effort to pursue all practical opportunities to expand community joint-use facilities in every new or expanded school construction project. In pursuing joint-use, the District's goal will be to maximize the use of District facilities to the broader community, without adversely impacting school operations or finances. Examples of appropriate joint-use provisions for incorporation into construction plans include, but are not limited to, new and expanded library facilities, recreational/physical education facilities, computer labs, meeting rooms, and childcare and health care facilities.

It is necessary to seek voter approval of a bond proposition in order to provide the local funding for identified school facility repairs, modernization projects, and growth needs to address student enrollment.

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this proposition by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $156,500,000 in aggregated principal at interest rates below the legal limit, to provide finance for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below.

BOND PROJECT LIST
The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A-1 shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

Approval of this Bond Proposition (the "Proposition") does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the Proposition will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Proposition. If state matching funds become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List as per Exhibit A-1. The District's proposal for the project or projects does not assume the receipt of matching state funds.

ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the District all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following.)

Evaluation of Needs. The Board, after a year long process involving staff members, parents, and community members, has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the District and determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A-1.

Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board shall establish an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board.

Performance Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expanded only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1.

Financial Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1.

Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board annually stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine and may be incorporated in the annual budget, audit, or another appropriate routine report to the Board.

FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS
No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the San Diego County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code.

Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, acquire, equip, furnish and otherwise improve the facilities of the District located at the following locations:

Anza Elementary - Built in 1960
Avocado Elementary - Built in 1970
Blossom Valley Elementary - Built in 1993
Bostonia Elementary - Built in 1995
Cajon Valley Home School
Cajon Valley Middle - Built in 1953
Chase Elementary - Built in 1979
Community Day - Built in 2007
Crest Elementary - Built in 1956
Cuyamaca Elementary - Built in 1948
Emerald Middle - Built in 1958
Flying Hills Elementary - Built in 1959
Fuerte Elementary - Built in 1959
Greenfield Middle - Built in 1959
Hillsdale Middle - Built in 1995
Jamacha Elementary - Built in 1991
Johnson Elementary - Built in 1954
Lexington Elementary - Built in 1956
Los Coches Creek Elementary - Built in 2006
Madison Avenue Elementary - Built in 1958
Magnolia Elementary - Built in 1952
Meridian Elementary - Built in 1949
Montgomery Middle - Built in 1974
Naranca Elementary - Built in 1957
Rancho San Diego Elementary - Built in 1986
Rios Elementary - Built in 1959
Sevick - Built in 1974
Vista Grande Elementary - Built in 1981
W.D. Hall Elementary - Built in 1960

Such projects shall include, but shall not be limited to:

• Improve energy efficiency in the District including, but not limited to replacing and upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with energy efficient systems.

• Install cutting edge instructional technology infrastructure to improve student access to computers and modern technology.

• Maintenance improvements to classrooms and school facilities including, but not limited to, upgrades to electrical and storm drain systems, and master clocks.

• Classroom and school facilities upgrades including, but not limited to, improvements to playgrounds and equipment and expansion of counseling centers.

• Upgrade and modernize school libraries.

• Install security fencing, cameras, and lighting systems to ensure campuses are adequately secured.

• Upgrade and modernize Rancho San Diego and Vista Grande Elementary Schools.

• Conduct necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of portable classrooms

• Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.).

• Furnish and equip schools as needed to the extent permitted by law.

Facility replacement and new construction shall include, but not be limited to:

• Replace outdated and inadequate classrooms and school facilities at Cajon Valley Middle School.

• Construct new joint-use gymnasiums at Emerald, Greenfield, and Montgomery Middle Schools, which do not currently have gymnasium facilities.

• Build new elementary schools, including joint-use library and multipurpose buildings, on existing campus of schools that are 50 years or older.