The Citizens Advisory Committee is mandated by law and is designed to insure accountability to the public. The Committee must include at least seven members of the community who will be appointed by the Governing Board of the School District. Service on the Committee is an opportunity for interested members of the community to learn more about the District and its facilities plans and is an opportunity for members of the community to support the District and its mission of public education. Employees of the district and vendors, consultants and contractors who work for, or provide services to, the district may not serve on the Committee.

“We are starting this process now, before the election, to demonstrate our commitment to the community who supports us. We want voters to trust that we will be transparent about the use of these bond dollars, should we be successful on November 8th,” stated Governing Board President Suzan Solomon.

Applications for membership on the Committee must be submitted on the District’s Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) Application Form. The Application Form is available upon request at 661.291.4162 and can be downloaded from the Newhall School District Website at www.newhallschooldistrict.net. The deadline to submit a completed Application Form is 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2011.

The selection process for Committee applicants may include an interview by the Governing Board or a subcommittee thereof at a Special Board meeting. Final selection of the members of the Committee will be by the Governing Board. Final selection and appointment of the initial members of the Committee is expected by mid to late January 2012.

“We seated a Citizens Committee for our last bond, Measure K, even when it was not mandated. We found that having a sounding board of community members helped us make decisions as we moved along and kept focus on those projects we promised to the community,” said Marc Winger, superintendent of Newhall. “That committee existed for about six years as we spent the Measure K dollars. I found their counsel invaluable.”

Measure E, a general obligation bond, is proposed to help modernize, renovate and revitalize our schools. It proposes an extension of existing tax rates, not new taxes. Funds generated from the authorized bonds will be used for a variety of school district capital projects. These projects will help the District in meeting its educational goals to educate the students in our community.