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Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
Measure AA
Funding for School Improvement
Lynwood Unified School District

School Bond - 55% Approval Required

Fail: 1,312 / 50.70% Yes votes ...... 1,276 / 49.30% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Jul 2 1:59pm, 100.00% of Precincts Reporting (24/24)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To improve student safety by upgrading school security systems and alarms; upgrade classrooms with up-to-date technology; acquire classrooms throughout the District; and provide more money for essential learning in the classrooms, shall the Lynwood Unified School District be authorized to issue $37.4 million of bonds within legal interest rates, with annual audits and an independent citizens' oversight committee, with all funds spent locally and no money used for administrative salaries or taken by the State?

Impartial Analysis from Andrea Sheridan Ordin, County Counsel
Approval of Measure AA would authorize the Lynwood Unified School District ("District") to issue general obligation bonds, in an amount not to exceed $37,400,000.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds shall be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the Measure including constructing, reconstructing, rehabilitating, modernizing, replacing, renovating, acquiring, equipping, rebuilding and furnishing classrooms, restrooms, and school facilities located at elementary, middle and high schools, including but not limited to improving technology infrastructure, upgrading communication, fire and security alarm systems, heating, air conditioning and lighting, installing solar and energy cost saving systems, upgrading playfields and athletic facilities, and paying off existing school facility debt. No funds may be used for teacher and administrator salaries or any other school operating expenses.

Independent performance and financial audits will be performed annually to ensure that the funds received from the sale of the bonds are expended as specified in the Measure. An independent Citizens Oversight Committee will be established and members appointed in accordance with Education Code sections 15278, 15280, and 15282. The Superintendent of the District shall cause an annual report to be filed with the Board of Education of the District not later than January 1 of each year, which shall contain information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of projects identified in the Measure.

The proceeds of the bonds shall be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector. The bonds shall be issued in accordance with law and shall mature and be paid not more than forty (40) years from the date of issuance. The best estimate of the highest tax rate required to fund the bonds, based on the estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing the Tax Rate Statement on the measure, is estimated to be $60.00 annually per $100,000 of the taxable real property located within the District.

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

  Official Information

Lynwood Unified School District
District Statistics

EdDate.org

GreatSchools.net
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Arguments For Measure AA
Everyone agrees on the importance and value of quality schools. From higher achieving students to greater neighborhood safety to neighborhood safety to improved property values, quality schools make a difference. While our teachers and staff are doing their best to teach our children, the State's budgetary crisis is making it nearly impossible to provide our children with the kind of quality education and school facilities they deserve.

Your YES vote on Measure AA will be used to improve our local schools by making schools safer, upgrading and repairing classrooms and increasing student safety throughout the District.

Measure AA will improve classrooms and school facilities throughout the District by:

  • Increasing student safety through installation of additional fencing, security alarms and monitoring systems
  • Upgrading classrooms with up-to-date technology
  • Preserving school programs and retaining teachers and staff by paying off existing school facility debt
  • Upgrading classrooms by replacing outdated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
  • Improving restrooms throughout the District

Measure AA will help our community while still protecting its taxpayers. All spending must be reviewed by an independent citizens' oversight committee.

There will be annual independent audits. No money can be used for administrative salaries. Most important, all bond monies must, by law, be spent within our District and cannot be taken by the State and used elsewhere.

Measure AA deserves our support because it will not only maintain the quality of our local schools. It will also help us maintain the quality of our community.

Please join us and VOTE YES ON MEASURE AA!

JUANITA NARANJO
3rd Grade Teacher, Keller Elementary
Lynwood Resident

RACHEL CHAVEZ
Board Member

JOSE LUIS SOLACHE
Board President

AIDE CASTRO
Mayor Pro Tem

RONALD CLOUTIER
School Union Service Worker

(No arguments against Measure AA were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from PATRICK LEIER, Interim Superintendent, Lynwood Unified School District
An election will be held in Lynwood Unified School District (the "District") on June 8, 2010 to authorize the sale of $37,400,000 in general obligation bonds. The following information is submitted in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code.

1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.0600 per $100 ($60.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2010-11.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.0600 per $100 ($60.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2016-17.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is $.0600 per $100 ($60.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

4. The best estimate of the average tax rate required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.0600 per $100 ($60.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

These estimates are based on projections derived from information obtained from official sources. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary depending on the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of the bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the needs of the District. Actual assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: 3/10, 2010

Full Text of Measure AA
FULL TEXT OF BALLOT MEASURE AA To improve student safety by upgrading school security systems and alarms; upgrade classrooms with up-to-date technology: acquire classrooms throughout the District; and provide more money for essential learning in the classrooms, shall the Lynwood Unified School District be authorized to issue $37.4 million of bonds within legal interest rates, with annual audits and an independent citizens' oversight committee, with all funds spent locally and no money used for administrative salaries or taken by the State?

BOND AUTHORIZATION
By approval of this measure by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the measure, the District will be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $37.4 million in aggregated principal at interest rates below the legal limit and to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List described below, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below.

ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
The provisions in this section are specifically included in this measure in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely. Expenditures to address specific facilities needs of the District will be in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following.)

Evaluation of Needs. The School Board has identified detailed facilities needs of the District and has determined which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The School Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List shown below. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The School Board shall establish an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee under Education Code Section 15278 and following to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities projects listed below. The committee will be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the School Board.

Performance Audits. The School Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed below.

Financial Audits. The School Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed below.

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

BOND PROJECT LIST
The Bond Project List shown below is a part of the ballot measure and must be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond measure.

Evaluation of Needs. As required by Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, the School Board has certified that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the list of school facilities projects shown below.

Projects Subject to Available Funding. The following list of projects is subject to the availability of adequate funding to the District. Approval of the bond measure does not guarantee that the proposed projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the bond measure. The District's proposal for the 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.

Scope of Projects. Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, equip, furnish, rebuild and otherwise improve District facilities as described below. The specific school facilities projects which are described below include all related and incidental costs, including costs of design, engineering, architect and other professional services, site preparation, utilities, landscaping and other incidental costs, and construction management. Bond proceeds may also be expended to acquire real property for future educational facilities and to acquire and install furniture, fixtures and equipment at any classrooms and other facilities of the District. The District may alter the scope and nature of any of the specific projects which are described below as required by conditions that arise during the course of design and construction, including unforeseen conditions such as dry rot, mold and faulty engineering.

RENOVATION, MODERNIZATION, REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS FACILITIES
Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, acquire, equip, rebuild and furnish the District's classrooms, restrooms, and school facilities including those located at:

Elementary Schools
Abbott, Helen Keller, Lincoln, Lindbergh, Lugo, Mark Twain, Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Washington, Will Rogers, Wilson

Middle Schools
Cesar Chavez, Hosler, Lynwood

High Schools
Firebaugh, Lynwood, Vista

Whenever specific items are included in the following list, they are presented to provide an example and are not intended to limit the generality of the broader description of authorized projects.

  • Improve the District's technology infrastructure and make electrical upgrades to provide students throughout the District with up-to-date computers
  • Upgrade communication and fire alarm systems to increase student safety
  • Repair and replace roofs
  • Renovate and modernize outdated classrooms throughout the District
  • Upgrade and replace outdated heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems
  • Renovate and repair outdated restrooms
  • Install additional fencing, security alarms and monitoring systems throughout the District to improve student safety
  • Install additional lighting throughout the District to improve campus security
  • Construct new classrooms to replace outdated, temporary portable classrooms
  • Install solar and other energy cost saving systems
  • Implement new landscaping designs that discourage and/or prevent graffiti
  • Upgrade playfields and athletic facilities throughout the District
  • Purchase the leasehold interest of the Public Property Financing Corporation of California in the real property (land and improvements) constituting Lynwood High School under the Lease Agreement dated as of April 1, 2007, between the District and the Financing Corporation, by applying bond proceeds to prepay the lease payment obligations of the District under the Lease Agreement
  • Pay off existing school facility debt consisting of the outstanding the 2007 Series A and B Certificates of Participation and thereby allow more funds to be used to improve the District's budget, preserve school programs, retain teachers and staff and upgrade essential learning materials


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Created: August 20, 2010 21:38 PDT
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