The Saugus Union School District Board of Trustees voted 4-0, in a special meeting held on Thursday, Aug. 1, to place a $187M facilities bond measure on the Nov. 5 ballot. The ballot measure will be voted on by registered voters within the boundaries of the SUSD.

The bond measure reads:

“SAUGUS UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS, STUDENT SAFETY MEASURE.

To retrofit classrooms/ schools, improve preparedness for earthquakes, wildfires, natural disasters; upgrade secured school entries and safety systems; expand early childhood education classrooms; and construct/repair sites and facilities; shall Saugus Union School District’s (SFID 2014-1) measure be adopted, authorizing $187 million in bonds at legal rates, levying $30 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating $13 million annually while bonds are outstanding, requiring audits, oversight, and all funds for local schools?”

Assembly Bill 300, passed by the California legislature in 1999, requires schools to be earthquake safe. Schools identified by the SUSD as requiring seismic retrofitting include Cedarcreek Elementary School, Emblem Academy, Skyblue Mesa Elementary School, Rosedell Elementary School and Rio Vista Elementary School.

In documents submitted to the board requesting the new bond it was noted that “Bonds authorized by Measure E in 2002 will be paid off in August, 2024, thereby allowing this bond measure to provide additional resources without exceeding the historic tax rates of Measure E.”

In addition, it was also noted: “The proposed school facility improvement bond measure requires mandatory taxpayer protections, including an independent citizens’ oversight committee and mandatory audits to ensure funds are spent as promised and that none of the money is spent on school operating expenses such as administrators’ salaries or pensions.”

The School Project List for use of bond money submitted to the board also includes, in addition to the seismic retrofitting:

Improve student safety and campus security by installing, as necessary at each school site, security (perimeter) fencing, mechanical surveillance and lighting systems, upgrading front office entryways, security access doors, secured single points of entry and other building security/access control systems, and modernizing basic safety systems, including, without limitation, smoke detectors, fire alarms, sprinklers and emergency communications systems, window film, automatic blinds and signage;

Improve student/staff/driver safety and traffic circulation around schools by upgrading school parking lots and/or reconfiguring or adding school pickup/drop-off areas and parking lots and adding bollards to all drop-off and pickup areas;

Repair, reconfigure and/or upgrade student support spaces at school sites for improved use and accessibility including restrooms, kitchens, library/learning centers, multi-purpose/multi-use spaces and other school facility spaces that can be upgraded for flexible teaching/learning/training uses;

Upgrade school site walkways, paths of travel, grounds, physical education/play surfaces, playground equipment, and fencing to improve accessibility, safety, drainage, and security and to add or expand green space at school campuses;

Construct and install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems mounted on outdoor shade structures to be used for outdoor classrooms, gathering places, and/or lunch, and replace old, inefficient electrical, plumbing, sewer, heating, lighting and ventilation (HVAC) systems with modern, more efficient systems that save energy; Purchase and/or install and maintain systems, equipment, vehicles, and facilities to improve energy efficiency and implement sustainability and best/green energy practices;

Replace counters and cabinets and upgrade equipment and furnishings in older classrooms, labs, restrooms and other student spaces at all school facilities to meet current academic standards and building health and safety codes; and

Replace portable classrooms with permanent school facilities;

Modify existing classrooms to create appropriate space for childcare, preschool and other early education (Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten) students.

Listed projects, repairs, improvements, rehabilitation projects and upgrades will be completed only as needed, and the listing of projects does not imply a particular prioritization among such improvements.

For more information about the proposed bond measure view the supporting documents attached to the SUSD board meeting agenda here.

View the video of the Thursday, Aug. 1 SUSD school board meeting authorizing the placement of the bond measure on the November ballot here.

To learn more visit www.saugususd.org.