File photo: KHTS
[By Kimberly Beers] Measure EE is on the November ballot and intended to maintain excellent elementary schools in Saugus Union School District by providing safe, modern classrooms for local students, according to the measure’s website.
“Our schools are the most valuable resource in our valley. Maintaining their facilities and investing in our future is the most important commitment we can make for our kids,” said Carl Goldman, KHTS AM-1220 co-owner. “Our stellar schools mean high property values, a strong business climate and a commitment for our future. We urge you to vote yes on Measure EE.”
The money will go towards upgrades in the Saugus Union School District, according to Joan Lucid, Saugus Union School District superintendent.
“People move to the Santa Clarita Valley for our amazing school systems,” said Lucid. “Our schools have gotten state and national recognition, and we need to continue that reputation.”
“We need to meet those needs,” said Lucid. “We have done all of the maintenance that we can do, and we have done it well.”
Now, in order to keep our schools up to date with the 21st century, we need some local funding, Lucid said.
Some of the schools need to improve their buildings with new roofs, new air conditioning, and some of the portable classrooms need to be replaced with more permanent structures, according to Lucid.
The measure will also increase the safety of our schools and our students, according to Lucid.
“We will improve some safety and security measures by securing classrooms with doors that can be locked from the inside if they need to be,” said Lucid.
The measure has support from a lot of the community, including Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, Congressman Steve Knight, State Senator Tony Strickland, Former State Senator Scott Wilk, and many other school boards, organizations and residents.
The measure needs an approval rate of 55 percent to pass.
“If approved, there will be a citizens oversight committee set up that oversees the allocated money and upgrades,” said Lucid. “The money will stay local, the state of California couldn’t take any of it. There will also be an annual audit so the public can see that the money is going towards what we said it would go towards.”
“We need parents to know that their children are getting the best we can offer, and a 21st century learning environment,” Lucid said.
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2 Comments
*Our communities are already paying on one 30-yr school bond tax which we see in our tax bill every year for up to $2,500.
*If you don’t pay directly, your builder paid it in advance and passed it on to you in the cost of your home, increasing your taxes.
* Upon closing escrow, we were told this bond was to re-build Bouquet Canyon Elementary.
*The Saugus Union School District (SUSD) has not used ANY of this money as intended and LIED to us.
*In 2009-2010, the SUSD stated that Bouquet Canyon had to be closed b/c it was outdated and was in a state of disrepair. Shortly thereafter, it was used of law enforcement training and now houses a pre-school.
*SUSD LIED to us and was unresponsive to our concerns.
* Our bond money was used to build a brand new specialty school for a new community not accessible to us.
*Our bond money did not stay in the community for which it was intended. We were LIED to again by the SUSD.
*The SUSD CAN NOT be trusted with any more bond measures attached to our tax bill.
* SUSD is attempting another bond measure on the November ballot.
VOTE NO FOR ANY MORE SCHOOL BOND MEASURES.
I agree. Where does the money budgeted for infrastructure go? A portion is to be for yearly maintenance needs, and part is to be set aside for replacement of facilities.