Measure A: A report to the community
Cathy Ross
CUSD Today
A safer option for dropping off your children, playground equipment that meets current safety laws, new or upgraded library media centers, the addition of three new elementary schools - these are just a few of the almost 90 projects that have been completed since the passage of the Measure A bond in March 2001 or are currently under construction.
The recommendation to put a bond measure on the March 2001 ballot came from a Capital Facilities Committee that was formed by the Governing Board in November 1999. This Committee assessed the district's current and projected needs based on anticipated growth, made a list of capital improvement projects and then looked at income derived from developer fees and other local fees. Upon completion of this task, the Committee recommended to the Governing Board that a bond measure be placed on the ballot.
The Governing Board approved the recommendation and district Bond Measure A was placed on the ballot for $79 million. Measure A passed with 64% of the vote and, along with revenue from developers and interest on investments, provided the district with a budget of $94 million to use toward the capital improvement projects. An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee was then appointed by the Governing Board to act as a watchdog on the expenditures and report on the progress of construction projects.
The bond money has been used to build three new elementary schools: Riverview and Freedom, which are already completed, and Fugman, which is scheduled for completion in 2004. In addition, three existing elementary schools were modernized and a range of building improvements were completed district-wide. Nelson and Fort Washington elementaries received new library media centers and Fancher Creek, Valley Oak and Gettysburg had their library media centers expanded. The Clovis Adult School received a paved parking lot and many schools received new landscaping and irrigation equipment. Dr. Roger Oraze, assistant superintendent for facility services, noted that it was the goal of the Capital Facilities Committee that every site have at least one improvement and that existing schools be provided with amenities comparable to new schools being built. (To view a complete list of project, please visit the CUSD Web site at: www.cusd.com.)
Among the more notable projects completed this year with Measure A money, is the district's wide-area computer network that connects all the intermediate and high schools with the district office. Even though this project is not as visible to the community, Oraze noted, "that by installing our own fiber cable, the district will no longer have to pay the local telephone company, which will result in substantial cost savings in operations."
Joe Chaidez, C.P.A., president of the Citizens' Oversight Committee, says he is very happy with this year's performance and commends all the members of the committee who attended the meetings and asked the questions that needed to be asked. In addition to the Oversight Committee, Chaidez said that an independent firm was asked to perform an audit to review expenditures and provide additional assurance for the community that projects were being completed within budget. The audit resulted in a "clean bill of health" for theCapital Facility Program. According to Chaidez, the audit will become an annual occurrence as part of the Committee's guiding principles.
Oraze said, "We are very pleased that in three years we have done over $100 million of construction projects using bond funds to build new schools without raising the annual tax rate. We have been fortunate in Clovis that the community gets behind and supports our bond efforts." He also emphasized the importance of the district's ongoing monitoring of new housing developments to project where new facilities will be needed to prevent overcrowding of our schools.
Oraze credits Gerald Walker, the district's director of construction & engineering, for playing a key role in maintaining day-to-day communication with the contractors and implementing the plans. “Positive interest by local architects, engineering firms and contractors has been essential in keeping projects within budget and completing the work on time,” said Oraze.
Chaidez said, "the Oversight Committee remains committed to honoring the wishes of the community to provide neighborhood schools for our children - one of the hallmarks of Clovis Unified." He also thanked outgoing Committee members Joe Erickson, Doug Griffin and Jim Ware for two years of service to the Committee. Chaidez was reappointed by the CUSD Governing Board to serve another two-year term.
According to those involved with Measure A projects, the bond has been successful in anticipating needs, planning new facilities, keeping existing facilities up to district standards, and providing good stewardship of taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars. It provides a great model for keeping CUSD in the forefront in meeting the needs of our rapidly growing community.