June 1

Board invites volunteers for Citizens Oversight Committee  (per Ed. Code 15282) 

June 6

Bond approved by community

June 15

Board selects Citizens Oversight Committee (must be completed by Aug. 6, 2006)

Board approves planning time line

July

No Board meeting – staff on recess

Aug. – Sept.

Study Sessions and general discussions occur to identify initial project(s)

Oct. – Dec.

Architect RFP processed, interviews conducted, firm(s) employed.

 2007

January

Board approves project list/schedule

January – February

Initial bond sale processed

January – March

Architect works with staff to develop plans for first project(s)

March

Board approves project plans for initial project(s)

March – April

Plans submitted to State

April – June

State reviews and approves plans

May - June

Initial project(s) bid

June

Initial contract(s) awarded

CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE [top]

The Pacific Grove Unified School District Board formed a committee to oversee the Board’s expenditure of Measure D funds
(pursuant to the requirements of Education Code 15278-282).

This proposition may be known and referred to as the Pacific Grove Unified School District General Obligation Bond of 2006, or Measure D.

FINDINGS

The Pacific Grove Unified School District (the “District), which serves the community of Pacific Grove and a portion of unincorporated Monterey County, is a recognized leader in providing top quality education to Monterey 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.

In order to provide our local students with the same quality of 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 and facility 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.

It is necessary to seek voter approval of a bond measure 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 $42,000,000 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 Measure (the "Measure") does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the Measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. If state matching funds become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List as per Exhibit A-1.

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 has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the District. 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 or Teacher 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 Monterey County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code.

The specific school facilities projects to be funded are as follows:

Bond proceeds will be used on projects at the following sites:

• Forest Grove School
• Robert Down School
• David Avenue School
• Pacific Grove Middle School
• Pacific Grove High School
• Lighthouse School
• Community High School
• Maintenance Facility
• District Administrative Offices
• Transportation Facility

Projects at each site shall include, as appropriate, but not be limited to, items such as the following:

• Repair and refurbish classrooms and other areas serving student needs
• Install and replace equipment and furniture in areas serving student needs
• Install, repair and/or replace and upgrade heating and ventilation systems
• Remove asbestos and lead where necessary
• Install, repair and/or replace plumbing systems, including water, sewer & gas
• Install, repair and/or replace underground infrastructure and pipes due to deterioration
• Install new technology upgrades, including infrastructure
• Install, repair and/or replace and upgrade electrical power systems
• Install, repair and/or replace electrical and lighting systems including energy saving upgrades
• Install repair and/or replace phones, data, bells, public address, intercom, cable & fiberoptic systems
• Provide furniture and equipment upgrades for classroom, auditoriums, gymnasiums, multi-purpose buildings and conference rooms — including audio visual and Internet access
• Install exterior safety lighting on walkways and in parking lots
• Install, repair and/or replace and upgrade security systems including hardware and electronic systems
• Install, repair and/or replace and upgrade science and computer labs and classrooms
• Install, repair and/or replace science classroom fixtures
• Improve earthquake resistance systems
• Install insulation and weatherstripping
• Install, repair and/or replace flooring
• Install, repair and/or replace doors and door hardware
• Install, repair and/or replace ceilings
• Install, repair and/or replace interior and exterior finishes
• Install, repair and/or replace roofing & gutters
• Install, energy management systems
• Install, new windows
• Improve site storm drainage
• Install, repair and/or replace and upgrade irrigation systems
• Install, repair and/or replace sidewalks, walkways, asphalt pavement, parking lots, driveways, playground surfaces, playfields and tennis courts
• Install, repair and/or replace fencing
• Install, repair and refurbish restrooms and shower areas
• Install, repair and/or replace lockers
• Install safety lighting in gymnasiums and shower and lockers areas
• Install new stadium bleachers, lighting and turf
• Install, repair or replace track surfaces
• Install, replace and/or repair gym floors
• Install, repair and/or renovate auditoriums
• Install, repair and/or renovate gymnasiums
• Install, repair and/or renovate kitchens and cafeterias
• Repair and/or renovate home economics classrooms
• Install, repair and/or renovate industrial arts classrooms
• Install, repair and/or renovate libraries
• Install, replace, repair and/or renovate stadium buildings
• Repair, replace and/or renovate swimming pool
• Repair, renovate or replace administrative offices at schools and central office
• Install, repair and renovate student stores
• Install, repair and renovate shop buildings
• Install, repair, renovate or replace music rooms and performance arts facilities
• Install, repair and renovate athletic stadium access
• Install, repair or renovate student activity areas
• Install, repair and renovate fire alarm systems
• Install, repair, renovate and replace modular classrooms and permanent facilities

To repair and renovate classrooms, schools and educational facilities throughout the District and build new classrooms and educational facilities, including science labs and music rooms, shall Pacific Grove Unified School District issue $42 million of bonds at the lowest possible interest rates so long as spending is annually reviewed by an independent citizens' oversight committee and all funds are spent locally and cannot be transferred to the State?

1. What will be the amount of the new bond?

The authorization will be for $42 million.

2. How much will the taxes be as a result of the new bond?

The average annual property tax will be approximately $33 per $100,000 of assessed value on all property that is currently paying property tax.

3. What will the new bond be used for?

The language of the Measure will allow the Board to approve projects that involve the installation, repair and renovation of classrooms, schools and educational facilities throughout the district. Improvements could be conducted at any of the sites currently operated by the district. The specific projects that will be conducted will be determined by the Board after the passage of the bond issue using the District’s Facility Plan and additional staff and public input.

4. What was the amount of the first bond?

The first bond, Measure A, approved in 1999, was for $12 million. At that time, the Facilities Plan of the district had identified over $60 million worth of repairs and improvements needed throughout the district. Legislation required that a bond issue must pass by a vote of at least 67%. A survey prior to the election determined that the maximum amount we could get approval for was $12 million, therefore, that was what was requested and approved.

5. When will the Measure A bond be paid off?

The final installment on the Measure A bond will be made in fiscal year 2031/32.

6. What are the taxes being paid as a result of the first bond?

An average of $27 per $100,000 of assessed value is the current annual payment on the Measure A bonds.

7. What was the Measure A bond used for?

The bond was used for critical basic improvements at each of our school sites including electrical upgrades, plumbing upgrades, heating upgrades, American Disability Act (ADA) compliance improvements, roofing repairs, flooring repairs, asbestos removal etc. There is a final report on the Measure A Bond available as a PDF file.
More information about Measure A can be found by clicking here.

8. Why are we asking for more money so soon?

The $12 million from the initial bond Measure A has been fully expended and it is now time to begin work on the next increment of school facility improvements that were not funded with the first bond Measure. Moving forward with the additional improvements now will maximize our ability to build on the investment made with the first bond projects without the need to deal with code changes and deterioration which will inevitably increase over time.

9. When was the Parcel Tax approved?

In November 2003, the district voters approved of a Parcel Tax of $35 per parcel per year for 5 years that is raising approximately $260,000 per year.

10. What is the Parcel Tax being used for?

The Parcel Tax is being used for operating improvements over a 5 year period beginning in 2004/05. Each year the school Board makes a decision concerning how to use the money that is being received. In the first year, the Board used funds for additional classes at the Middle School and High School, an additional teacher at the elementary level, computer lab aides, elementary library managers and supplements to the music, athletic and technology programs. In the second year, 2005/06, the funds are being used to continue the additional classes at the Middle School, High School and elementary levels, to continue the computer lab time and the library manager positions and to supplement the athletic program. Between the first and second year of the bond issue there was a reduction in the amount being collected due to a revision of how the tax was to be applied to time share units within the community.

11. When will the Parcel Tax be paid off?

2008/09 is the last year that the Parcel Tax is authorized to be collected. For the tax revenue to continue beyond that year, the Board will need to place the issue back on the ballot for a vote of the district voters.

If there are any further questions, please contact:
Robin Blakley; phone 831-646-6509
                       email: rblakley@pgusd.org

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