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December 19
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Two-story classroom buildings at two elementary schools, new data infrastructure at a third; a new gym roof and locker room at the middle school, and major repairs and technology upgrades at all four campuses.

Those things and more are in store for the Castaic Union School District if voters approve a $51 million school facilities bond.

On Tuesday the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will decide whether to place the bond measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The bond would go before voters who live within the boundaries of the Castaic Union School District. It would need 55 percent approval to pass, and would cost homeowners $19 per year per $100,000 in assessed valuation (per the tax rolls, not current market value).

If approved, the money can be spent only on the list of items shown below.

In a July 19 resolution, the Castaic School Board said the bond money is needed because the school district “lacks sufficient funding to adequately upgrade its educational facilities and technology despite ongoing efforts to obtain monies from the state of California for such purpose.”

“The district has conducted a thorough facility needs assessment to identify the most urgent projects at each school site, including providing up-to-date science labs and learning technology and improving the energy and operational efficiency of our schools to reduce utility and other costs,” the resolution said. “It is in the best interest of local students, teachers and staff to (a) address facility improvements now before they become more pressing and more costly. (b) implement a financing program that enables the district to take advantage of current lower interest rates and construction costs, and (c) improve the district’s energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.”

The board hopes to see the following question on the ballot:

“Castaic School Improvement Measure. To provide modem and efficient elementary and middle school facilities, shall Castaic Union School District build up-to-date science labs/classrooms/facilities, provide modern computers/technology/equipment, rep/ace inefficient and outdated heating/ventilation systems and update fire alarm/safety systems by issuing $51 million in bonds at legal rates, with independent oversight, no money for administrators, and all funds staying local?”

According to the text of the bond proposition, “Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, including, to the extent permitted by law, the acquisition or lease of real property in connection with an existing or future financing of the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List, including the prepayment of existing or future interim lease. certificate of participation or lease revenue bond financings, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.”

The district would appoint a citizens’ oversight committee and conduct annual audits as proscribed by law.

CASTAIC UNION SCHOOL DISTRICTSCHOOL IMPROVEMENT MEASURE

BOND PROJECT LIST

 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECTS

 

Castaic Elementary School

• Construct and/or acquire and install new two-story classroom/annex building, and furnish and equip such building.

• Replace portable buildings with permanent, portable or modular buildings, and furnish and equip such buildings.

• Construct and/or acquire and install additional classrooms, classroom buildings, child care facilities, preschool facilities, restrooms and storage facilities, and furnish and equip such buildings and facilities.

• Renovate, rehabilitate, re-configure, expand and/or upgrade classrooms, classroom buildings, restrooms and school support facilities, including interior and exterior doors, windows, door and window hardware, roofs, rain gutters and downspouts, walls, ceilings and floors, and finishes, paint, siding, insulation, casework, cabinets, carpets, drapes, window coverings, lighting, sinks, drinking fountains, fixtures, signage, furniture and equipment.

 

Live Oak Elementary School

• Construct and/or acquire and install new multi-purpose room with cafeteria services, kitchen facilities, storage, restrooms and a lunch area with canopy, and furnish and equip the same.

• Construct and/or acquire and install new two-story classroom building with classrooms, library/media and offices for teachers and staff, and furnish and equip the same.

• Renovate, rehabilitate, re-configure, expand and/or upgrade classrooms, classroom buildings, restrooms and school support facilities, including interior and exterior doors, windows, door and window hardware, roofs, rain gutters and downspouts, walls, ceilings and floors, and finishes, paint, siding, insulation, casework, cabinets, carpets, drapes, window coverings, lighting, sinks, drinking fountains, fixtures, signage, furniture and equipment.

• Reconfigure existing kitchen into a Parent/Volunteer/PTA room, and furnish and equip such room.

• Reconfigure existing administration area into a library, and furnish and equip such library.

• Renovate, reconfigure and enlarge parking area and student drop off zone.

• Renovate and reconfigure field and hard court areas.

 

North Hills Elementary School

• Construct and/or acquire and install two buildings for classroom storage, adult restrooms and data infrastructure, and furnish and equip the same.

• Construct and/or acquire and install student restrooms in existing buildings, and furnish and equip the same.

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECTS

 

Castaic Middle School

• Construct and/or acquire and install new gymnasium locker room, and furnish and equip the same.

• Renovate, rehabilitate and reconfigure the existing locker room, and furnish and equip the same.

• Construct and/or acquire and install new roof on gymnasium and existing locker room.

• Renovate and rehabilitate office reception area, and furnish and equip the same.

• Construct and/or acquire and install lighting, fencing and security systems.

 

PROJECTS AT ALL SCHOOLS

• Renovate, replace, upgrade, acquire, install and integrate major site/building/utility systems, equipment and related infrastructure and housing, including lighting, electrical (including wiring and related infrastructure for modem technology), heating, cooling and ventilation, sewer or septic tank, water (including well), gas, irrigation, drainage, fire detection and suppression, security (including surveillance), data, voice and audio-visual communication (including public address) and energy efficiency/management monitoring systems, networks, fixtures, equipment and controls.

• Acquire, install and/or construct renewable energy and/or energy-saving systems, improvements and equipment, including photovoltaic solar panels and other electricity generation and distribution systems, natural light improvements, upgraded insulation, efficient lighting, windows and window coverings, shade structures, energy management and conservation systems, and other passive technologies, and structures to support such systems, improvements and equipment and related infrastructure; rehabilitate and replace such systems, improvements and equipment as needed in the future.

• Inspect buildings and other structures and repair, replace and/or improve such structures to eliminate/mitigate any structural deficiencies or dry rot, termite, mold or similar damage or hazards.

• Replace, acquire and install and/or construct storage areas, units or buildings (permanent, portable or modular).

• Acquire and install and/or construct shade structures (included covered eating areas).

• Repair, replace, improve and/or upgrade sidewalks, walkways (including covered walkways), handrails, guardrails and other path of travel areas and buildings.

• Renovate, repair, resurface, upgrade, expand, construct and/or install and improve paved and other hard surfaces (including playgrounds, parking lots and ramps), benches, gates, fencing, play fields and landscaping, and acquire, improve, replace and/or upgrade playground equipment and fixtures.

• Reconfigure, renovate, repair, resurface, improve and/or expand parking and related areas and pick-up, drop-off and bus areas to improve ingress/egress and safety and increase capacity to meet site usage.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

All bond projects include the following as needed:

• Planning, designing and providing temporary housing necessary for listed bond projects.

• Inspection, sampling and analysis of grounds, buildings and building materials to determine the presence of hazardous materials or substances, including asbestos, lead, etc., and the encapsulation, removal, disposal and other remediation or control of such hazardous materials and substances.

• Address other unforeseen conditions revealed by construction, renovation or modernization (including plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic and structural deficiencies, etc.).

• Acquire, install and/or construct other improvements to comply with state and federal building, safety and access requirements, includin2 seismic safety requirements, Field Act requirements and access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• Perform necessary on-site and off-site preparation or restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable buildings, including demolition of structures, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, drainage, utility lines (gas, water, sewer, electrical, data and voice, etc.), trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, land or rights of way to the property.

• Acquire or construct storage facilities and other space on an interim basis, as needed to accommodate construction materials, equipment and personnel, and interim classrooms (including relocatables) for students and school functions or other storage for classroom materials displaced during construction.

• Furnish and equip classrooms and other school facilities; furnishing and equipping shall include initial purchases and scheduled and necessary replacements, upgrades and updating of technology.

• All other work, necessary and incidental to the listed bond projects.

• Acquisition of all or a portion of any school site or facility, or an interest therein, or making lease payments with respect to any school site or facility that has been encumbered in order to finance or refinance the listed bond projects pursuant to a lease, certificate of participation or lease revenue bond financing.

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