Facilities, Construction, Modernization & Safety

How will this effort improve instruction?
Safe, modern school facilities are essential to maintaining the quality of education in our local high schools. ALL students deserve to learn in quality classrooms and school facilities. There’s a direct relationship between quality school facilities and student achievement. Studies show that students and teachers perform best in safe, modern classrooms and schools with up-to-date technology. Unfortunately, our facilities do not match the exceptional teaching and learning happening at our local high schools. Without needed facilities and education technology upgrades, the local quality of education will deteriorate over time. For students to succeed in college, careers, they must be skilled in use of today’s tech, have a solid background in science, math, engineering, tech; learning in updated classrooms and school facilities will make this possible.

How are CUHSD facilities improvements funded?
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS of needs have been identified to repair and modernize our five high schools, one alternative school, one adult school, and one post-secondary school serving adults with disabilities. There is a pressing need to upgrade high school classrooms, science labs, career-training facilities, and instructional technology to support college/career readiness in math, science, technology, engineering, arts, and skilled trades; improve security systems, fire alarms, and access for students with disabilities; and modernize older facilities. Our school district makes every effort to use resources wisely. With limited help from the State and our school facility and technology needs growing every day, we need to work together as a community to protect our local quality of education. Our current list of facility needs far exceeds our available allotment for school facilities maintenance. CUHSD has been exploring all available solutions to meet these needs—including State matching funds, private grants, and a local school bond. School bonds are the most common way to fund the upgrades our schools need.

How can we be assured that the potential bond money would be spent properly?
Any potential bond approved by voters will require TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS. All funds raised would stay local to support CUHSD school facility and technology improvements. These funds cannot be taken by the State or spent on administrators' salaries. An Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee is required to ensure funds are spent properly.

Isn’t there a facilities budget for ongoing school maintenance?
District staff continue to invest and work hard to maintain our high school facilities, and keep them in good working condition with limited resources. However, the reality is that the types of repairs and renovations that our current needs assessment has identified go beyond the scope and means of regular school maintenance budgets.

Are CUHSD Schools really that old?
Most high schools were built in the 1960s or earlier, some classrooms and science labs haven’t been upgraded since they were built; we need to modernize classrooms and science labs to meet today’s academic standards and ensure that we don’t fall behind other districts. Additionally, some of the high schools were built so long ago that underground pipes, infrastructure are deteriorating, resulting in gas leaks, water leaks, mold, and other hazards; we need to fix these problems.

Which school-sites will be impacted?
In December of 2023, a Long Term Facilities Master Plan was completed, shaping the long term needs for each campus. The Facilities Master Plan reflects a full assessment of school facility needs—including classroom structures, student support facilities, school equipment, and infrastructure -- at every site. Every school-site has a facility needs. A potential bond measure would improve facilities at every site.

How does equity factor into the need for a school facilities bond?
Measure AA (2016) enabled the District to repair and upgrade many—but not all—old classrooms, and science and technology labs. This measure will help the District make similar improvements at all schools so students throughout CUHSD have access to modern educational facilities.

Doesn’t the STATE provide funding for facility upgrades?
Very little. In general, new funds provided by the State are for instructional programs, NOT capital improvements. Moreover, in order to access state funding, school districts MUST generate local matching funds by passing a local school bond measure. Passing a local bond is the ONLY way to qualify for additional state funding if and when it becomes available. There are no other sources of funding for major facility upgrades.

Will businesses share in the cost of a potential bond measure?
Yes, commercial, industrial, and residential property owners will be subject to assessment.

Wasn’t the Lottery or Proposition 30 supposed to fix our schools?
Unfortunately, restricted Lottery funds can only be used for classroom instruction, not technology or facility upgrades. Moreover, the money our school district receives from the Lottery each year comprises less than 2% of our annual General Fund Budget. Lottery funds alone cannot fund the extensive upgrades that our schools need.

I don’t have children or they are grown and gone. Why should I pay attention to this process?
Quality schools protect property values. Home resale values will benefit as our neighborhood schools are improved. The longer we wait to complete needed repairs, the more expensive it will be. If a potential school bond measure is passed by voters, CUHSD schools will be eligible for $35 million dollars in state matching funds that would otherwise go to other communities.

What is a Proposition 39 school bond measure and what can it pay for?
A Proposition 39 school bond measure can ONLY be used to fund school facility and technology improvements. A Proposition 39 school bond requires 55% voter approval to pass. Proposition 39 school bonds prohibit the use of the funds for operations, administrator salaries, or pensions and also requires independent financial and performance audits on the use of bond proceeds. No revenue generated by a local bond can be taken away by the State. All revenue stays local to benefit our local schools and students.

Which schools would benefit from the bond proposal you are considering?
All five comprehensive high schools, one alternative school serving special needs, one adult school, and one post-secondary school serving adults with disabilities will benefit from any revenue raised from the potential bond measure we are considering.

Will this bond help replace the end of life/expiring portables still currently in use at our schools?
Yes. There are 60 portable classrooms at schools that are falling apart, have structural damage, or have water leaks. It is expensive to keep repairing units and we need a bond to replace decaying portables with modern, permanent classrooms.

 

How can we be assured that the bond money would be spent properly?
Taxpayer protections are REQUIRED. Every penny from this measure would go to benefit CUHSD schools, be controlled locally, and would not be allowed to be taken away by the state. This measure requires independent citizens' oversight and reports to the community to ensure the funds are spent as promised. None of the money from this measure can be used to increase salaries, benefits, or pensions for administrators, teachers, or any other school employees.

If voters approve the bond, when will the work begin?
If the District moves forward with a bond measure and voters approve it, the District would immediately focus on addressing the most critical facilities needs. A schedule for funding projects will be developed so that they can be completed on time and within budget. 

How much would the proposed bond cost?
No decisions have been made yet. A school facilities bond usually translates to about $30 per year for every $100,000 of assessed valuation. The assessed valuation refers to taxable value, not the market value of your home.

Have there been other CUHSD school bonds? If so, when was the last bond?
CUHSD makes every effort to use taxpayer dollars in a prudent, responsible manner. Measure AA, passed in 2016, was the first step in a multi-year effort to upgrade aging, deteriorated Campbell UHSD schools, starting with a first set of most urgent needs. Thanks to the generosity of our community, local students are now benefiting from improved school facilities to help prepare them for success in college, careers and in life. However, OVER A BILLION DOLLARS of facility improvements remain for which the District does not have a funding source, the most notable being improvements to school safety systems, fire alarms, and access for disabled students, as well as repairs and upgrades to classrooms, science labs, career-training facilities, and instructional technology to support college preparation and career readiness in math, science, technology, engineering, arts, and skilled trades.

Who makes the final decision on a local school bond?
The locally elected Campbell Union High School District Board of Trustees is the legal entity that can place a bond on the ballot. Ultimately, Campbell Union High School District REGISTERED VOTERS will have the final say when they vote for or against the measure on the ballot.