Applause erupted last week after the Murrieta Valley Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted to put a $359 million bond measure on the November ballot.
“This is an important step for us in this process that has been transparent, data-informed and rooted in our responsibility to this community,” Deputy Superintendent Darren Daniel said at the May 12 meeting.
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If approved, staff said the funding would be used for a number of repairs and renovations across the district including fixing deteriorating roofs, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and safety systems and upgrading aging classrooms, science labs, career technology and other school facilities to support college/career readiness in math, science, technology, arts, engineering and skilled trades.
According to the resolution, the district has recorded more than 125 roof leaks over the past year and aging air conditioning systems are increasingly unable to keep up during extreme heat events.
“The resolution is grounded in a rigorous facility master planning process shaped by extensive community engagement and supported by favorable polling,” Deputy Superintendent Darren Daniel said. “This work reflects the board’s commitment to this community and to maintaining safe, high quality learning environments.”
The majority of those who spoke at the meeting urged the board to put the bond on the November ballot, including community members, parents, educators and school administrators.
“This is not the time to not invest in ourselves and attract parents and students into the district,” parent Albert Fader said. “If we just allow our schools to deteriorate, we’re going to see our property values fall, we’re going to see student enrollment fall even further.”
The two who spoke against the measure were Republican activists Murrieta resident Bob Kowell and Temecula resident Jack Guerrero, who both took issue with the ballot language for the bond.
“You’re on the cusp of putting ballot language and voting on that today, and I’m afraid that the current version is woefully inadequate,” Guerrero said. “We have to be absolutely transparent when it comes to the ballot language, there are no more important 75 words in the entire agenda packet than the ballot statement, because everybody that votes will see those 75 words.”
The district currently has three active bonds. Measure K, which was passed in 2002, is a $98 million bond set to expire in 2029. Measure E, which was passed in 2006, is a $120 million bond set to expire in 2033. And Measure BB, which was passed in 2014, is a $98 million bond set to expire in 2050.
Board President Nicolas Pardue, who two years ago voted against a bond election, said he understands that the community expects high-quality facilities and said he was aware of the needs throughout the district. And though he supported putting the bond on the ballot, he said he was frustrated by the situation.
“The state funding formula is a complete joke, and it hurts our employees, and it hurts our whole community, because then we’re forced to go to a bond,” he said. “We are the highest tax state in the union. That drives everyone insane, that we then have to turn around and ask taxpayers for more money after we’ve already paid such high rates of taxes, so it’s a huge frustration for lots of people.”
The measure will need the approval of 55% of voters in order to pass, and would maintain the district’s current property tax rate of $60 per $100,000 assessed value.
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