Capistrano Unified School District

Neighborhood School

Overcrowding

And Repair Measure

The CUSD Board called an "SFID" bond election to help alleviate over-crowding and address repair needs.

SFID stands for School Facilities Improvement District

• To be held on November 2, 1999

• Would generate $65 million

• Would annually cost an average of $14.85 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, not market value

• Mello-Roos residents are excluded

• If passed, CUSD will qualify for $101 million in matching state funds

Our Needs

• Help to Alleviate Overcrowding

• Repair Neighborhood Schools

Help to Alleviate Overcrowding

• In less than 10 years, school enrollment in CUSD has grown by more than 70%.

• In 1990, enrollment stood at 26,751. A decade later we expect 45,899 students.

• We are receiving 2,000 new students each year—with no end in sight.

• That's the equivalent of 1 new high school or 3 new elementary schools each year.

• Using developer fees, Mello-Roos funds and every program available, the school district has built or is currently building 18 new schools and plans 15 more in the next 5-8 years.

• But it isn't enough!

• Schools in every community are facing severe overcrowding.

• We have converted libraries, hallways and multi-purpose rooms/stages into classrooms when necessary.

• We have put portables on playgrounds in so many schools that children cannot play comfortably.

• The bond would enable us to build 4 new schools

- one K-5 elementary

- one K-5 elementary and one 6-8 middle school (at the same site)

- one 9-12 high school

• CUSD would qualify for $47 million in state matching funds for new construction under the state's 50/50 program.

Repair Neighborhood Schools

• Some of our schools are 30 to 40 years old. These are deteriorating and in need of repairs, such as:

- Drainage, sewers and restrooms need replaced.

- Roofs leak and foundations are cracked.

- Plumbing and heating systems are old and need to be replaced.

- - Classrooms, science labs and libraries need renovations.

• A successful bond would enable us to:

- Qualify for $54 million in matching funds for school repairs under the state's 80/20 program.

- Upgrade older electrical systems to both make them safer and to wire every school for technology.

Strict Taxpayer Safeguards

• To ensure that monies would be spent as promised, strict taxpayer safeguards have been built into the bond:

- By law, bonds can only be used for school buildings/grounds. No money would be spent on administrators' salaries.

- An SFID fiscal oversight committee would be established.

Strict Taxpayer Safeguards

- A special fund would be established for "Contingency/Ongoing School Construction and Repair."

- Every single school in every community would benefit—and those benefits are spelled out in the bond.

A Successful Election

• Requires a 2/3 (two-thirds) YES vote of all voters voting on November 2nd.

Community Reaction to Our Needs

• A recent poll indicated that

- 71% of voters believe CUSD schools are overcrowded.

- 78% said new schools are needed due to growth.

- 69% said many buildings at older schools are deteriorating, run down and in need of repair.

- 78% said they would be more likely to vote for a bond if we received state matching funds.

- 62% said they would vote YES for a bond if the election were held today.

Election Day Is November 2nd

POINTS TO CONSIDER

- Roll of Board of Trustees

- Survey Your Community

- Consultants' Advice

- Establish a Plan to Win

- Fund Raising

- PTA and PTSA Commitment

- Election Day