14,949 / 73.59% Yes votes ...... 5,364 / 26.41% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Approval of Measure S would authorize the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District ("District") to issue $165,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds would be used only for the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of District facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for District facilities. No funds may be used for teacher or administrator salaries, or other school operating expenses.

As required by law, the Board of Education of the District ("Board of Education") has adopted a list of the specific school facilities projects to be funded by the sale of the bonds. The Board of Education will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to ensure that funds received from the sale of the bonds will have been expended only on the specific projects listed, and will appoint a citizen's oversight committee to inform the public on expenditures.

The bonds would be issued and sold at an interest rate not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by law, and would be repaid by a property tax levied upon real property located within the District over a period not to exceed forty (40) years. The tax rate levied as the result of approval of this Measure shall be no more than $60 per $100,000 of taxable property value within the District.

This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.

NOTICE TO VOTERS

Approval of Measure S does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure S will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure S. The school district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

Contact FOR Measure S:

Yes on Measure S
Brenton Tesler, Field Director
310-473-4499 Cell: 310-717-7549
Email: btesler@attbi.com

Norwalk and La Mirada neighborhood schools, some 70 years old, need urgent health, safety and education repairs. Vote YES on S to improve our schools!

They suffer from: outdated fire safety equipment; leaky roofs; run-down bathrooms; obsolete electrical wiring, heating, and plumbing systems; and old sewage pipes.

Schools built for 450 now house 800. To accommodate today's students, over 240 "temporary" portables are currently used instead of permanent classrooms. Additional classrooms and urgent safety repairs are needed to make our schools safe, healthy and clean for children.

Every neighborhood school in Norwalk and La Mirada benefits from Measure S # not just a few. Construction experts, teachers, parents and community leaders prioritized the most urgent needs.
Yes on S installs adequate fire safety systems, alarms, emergency systems.
Yes on S replaces plumbing, heating/cooling, ventilation, and sewer systems.
Yes on S constructs permanent classrooms to replace old portables.
Yes on S installs electrical wiring for modern technology.
Yes on S replaces deteriorated, unsafe roofs, windows, and doors.
Yes on S improves disabled access for all schools.

Measure S is subject to tough fiscal accountability requirements that protect taxpayers:

State laws prohibit Measure S funds from being spent on administrators' salaries.

Every dime must be used for school projects specified in the Measure S Bond Plan.

A Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee must monitor Measure S spending, with performance and fiscal audits published annually. NO District vendors or employees can serve on this Committee, which must include business, senior and taxpayer representatives, to name a few.

Measure S allows our schools to qualify for additional state matching funds. Good schools improve your property values. Join PTA, teachers and civic leaders in voting YES on S.

JESSE M. LUERA
Member of Norwalk City Council and Former School Bd. Member

JULIE FRANCE
President of Norwalk-La Mirada Council of PTAs

GERALD A. GANDOLFO
Teachers Association

PAT RUIZ
Retired Community Member-President Kiwanis

LUCILLE COLLN
Retired Community Person

(No arguments against Measure S were submitted)

To: The voters voting in the November 5, 2002 election on the question of the issuance of $165,000,000 General Obligation Bonds of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District:

You are hereby notified in accordance with Section 9401 of the Elections Code of California of the following:

1. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments during the first fiscal year after the first sale of bonds (Fiscal Year 2003-2004), based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account future growth, is the following: $.06000 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to $60.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

2. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments during the fiscal year after the last sale of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account future growth, is as follows: $.06000 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to $60.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. Year after last sale of bonds: 2013-14

3. The best estimate from official sources of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments on the bonds and the year in which such rate would apply, based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account future growth, is as follows: $.06000 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to $60.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

Submittal of the foregoing statement has been approved by the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District.

"Shall the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District relieve overcrowding; repair, upgrade, construct, acquire, equip neighborhood schools/classrooms; install fire safety equipment, emergency lighting, energy efficient heating/cooling systems, fire doors; replace outdated plumbing/sewer and decayed drainage systems, leaking, rundown roofs/bathrooms; upgrade electrical wiring for technology; improve student safety conditions; and qualify for State funds by issuing $165,000,000 of bonds at legal rates, requiring annual audits, citizen oversight, and no money for administrators' salaries?"

In developing the Project List, the Board and the District's Facilities Task Force have prioritized key health and safety needs so the most critical needs are addressed. The Project List was developed with the input of teachers, school staff, architects, community and business leaders who determined that if these modernization needs were not addressed now, the problems would only get worse. The Facilities Task Force advised the Board of Education that it would be less expensive to upgrade and repair aging schools and classrooms now, than in the future.

The Board of Education of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District has evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs in developing the scope of school facility projects to be funded, as outlined in the District's Facilities Needs Assessment and Master Plan as shall be amended from time to time, including the following projects:

PROJECT LIST

Renovation Projects

Neighborhood schools will benefit from renovation projects, such as:
# Replace existing wiring systems to meet current electrical and accessibility codes and increased capacity.
# Additional electrical service capacity to relieve currently overloaded electrical systems.
# Install and repair fire safety equipment, including alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, emergency lighting and fire safety doors.
# Replace outdated plumbing, sewer and gas systems, including the elimination of lead-containing fixtures.
# Replace and install heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems with building code compliant, energy efficient systems.
# Provide enhanced computer labs.
# Classroom interiors will receive new paint, carpet/vinyl tile/asbestos abatement, white markerboards, tackable surfaces, increased storage capacity.
# Replace existing decayed & termite damaged window systems with energy efficient systems.
# Federal and State-mandated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades including site access, parking, staff and student restrooms, relocation of some existing electrical devices, drinking fountains, playground equipment, etc.
# Repair drainage systems, leaking roofs, and decaying walls.
# Repair or replace rundown bathrooms.

Health and Safety Projects

Neighborhood schools will benefit from health and safety projects, such as:
# Fire alarm systems upgraded to automatic systems.
# Replace/upgrade/install security systems.
# Remove over 20-year old portable classrooms.
# Replace existing wooden doors and doorframes with metal doors and doorframes.
# Repair termite damage to structures and doors/doorframes.
# Improve access for disabled persons as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

New Construction Projects

Neighborhood schools will benefit from some new construction, such as:
# Add science labs at middle and high schools.
# Classrooms, storage, educational and administrative support spaces, staff and student restrooms.
# New classrooms at elementary, middle and high schools.

The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the District's receipt of State matching funds and the final cost of each project. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control.

Listed repairs, rehabilitation projects and upgrades will be completed as needed at a particular site. Each project is assumed to include its share of costs of the election and bond issuance, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, construction management, and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed. Certain construction funds expected from non-bond sources have not yet been secured. Therefore the Board cannot guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects.

No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease or real property for school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other operating expenses.

Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The expenditure of bond money on these projects are subject to stringent financial accountability requirements. Performance and financial audits will be performed annually, and all bond expenditures will be monitored by an independent Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure that funds are spent as promised and specified.