May 26, 2016
By Californians for Quality Schools
The California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) announced in its May 2016 newsletter that it has endorsed the Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016. CCSESA provides the organizational mechanism to support the 58 County Superintendents of Schools to design and implement statewide programs to identify and promote quality cost-effective educational practices. CCSESA also advocates for for effective policies and adequate resources for K-12 and early childhood public education at state and federal levels.
“At the April General Membership meeting, CCSESA voted to endorse the facilities bond initiative, which will go before the voters in November. The Facilities Bond Act of 2016, a $9 billion initiative statue, provides for state matching funds in the following categories:
- $3 billion for new construction;
- $3 billion for modernization;
- $2 billion for community colleges; and
- $500 million each for CTE facilities and charters.
The state last passed a facilities bond in 2006. Since then, funds have been depleted, leaving county offices of education in a particularly difficult position as they are unable to run their own local bonds to raise revenue. Under the initiative, the current school facilities program would be maintained, including the financial hardship provision, which is a vital resource for county offices of education. The initiative would fund the current $2 billion backlog of school facilities projects.
CCSESA is pleased to announce its endorsement of the initiative. Many individual county superintendents have also endorsed the ballot measure.”
Read the entire newsletter here at the CCSESA website.
For more information on the Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016, please visit our website at
www.CaliforniansForQualitySchools.com.
Today Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) Chair Jenny Hannah presented the Coalition’s support testimony for the 2016 State School Bond that is on the November 2016 Ballot. Chair Hannah was the primary speaker representing how the bond will provide equity and support for California’s students and educators. She testified before the combined Assembly Education, Assembly Higher Education and Senate Education Committees. With her was Richard Lyon, representing our Californians for Quality Schools (CQS) partner the California Building Industry Association (CBIA).