League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Marin County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure A Bonds Ross Valley School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 8565 / 71.05% Yes votes ...... 3490 / 28.95% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Protect and maintain quality education in our local award-winning schools + vote YES on A! San Anselmo and Fairfax schools are severely overcrowded + and projected to be 30% over capacity by 2014, with increased class sizes and student-teacher ratios! Without adding additional classrooms and replacing aging portables, we cannot maintain the quality of education in the Ross Valley School District. YES on A restores dedicated art, music, multipurpose, and before/after-school care rooms at all elementary schools, which are now used for classrooms due to overcrowding. YES on A replaces aging portables with permanent classrooms. Hundreds of students learn in deteriorating, outdated portables. YES on A improves the energy efficiency of our schools. YES on A repairs/replaces old, deteriorating equipment and facilities, builds much-needed new science labs, and funds science equipment/technology. YES on A upgrades classroom technology and computers so all students can compete in the global economy. Measure A is a green initiative + making our neighborhood schools more energy-efficient, saving thousands of dollars per year that can go directly into the classroom. Adequate school facilities are essential to our community's quality of life and maintaining property values. Every dime raised by Measure A benefits students in our communities + NO money can be taken by Sacramento or given to other school districts. Measure A has strong fiscal accountability requirements, including independent annual audits. An Independent Citizens Oversight Committee + including a Taxpayers' representative + will monitor spending to guarantee all funds are spent as promised. By law, NO money can go to administrators' salaries. YES on A also makes our schools eligible for millions in State matching funds that would otherwise go to other communities. Join San Anselmo and Fairfax educators, parents, seniors, local business owners, and community leaders + vote YES on A for quality schools! To learn more, visit http://www.SupportRossValleySchools.org. s/LEW TREMAINE Mayor of Fairfax and Support our Schools Co-Chair s/TOM McINERNEY San Anselmo Councilmember and Support our Schools Co-Chair s/KYRA KUHN Co-Chair, YES Ross Valley Schools Foundation s/CONNIE RODGERS Executive Director, San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce s/ETHEL SEIDERMAN Founder, Fairfax-San Anselmo Children's Center, and 45 year resident. (No arguments against Measure A were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Superintendent

An election will be held in the Ross Valley School District (the "District") on November 2, 2010, to authorize the sale of up to $41,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the proposition. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in several series over time. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. 1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied 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 $0.02978 per $100 ($29.78 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2011-12. 2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied 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 $0.02937 per $100 ($29.37 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2018-19. 3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.02983 per $100 ($29.83 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2012-13. 4. The best estimate of the average annual tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.02938 ($29.38 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. Voters should note that these estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property in the District as shown on the official tax rolls of the respective counties, not on the property's market value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The estimates are based upon the District's projections and are not binding upon the District. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on the need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process. Dated: August 2, 2010 s/EILEEN ROHAN Superintendent, Ross Valley School District Approval of Measure A does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Ross Valley School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure A will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure A. The 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.

Full Text of Measure A

PRIORITY SCHOOL PROJECTS LIST The Board of Trustees of the Ross Valley School District certifies that it evaluated the District's urgent and critical school needs, including enrollment trends, student-teacher ratios, class size, overcrowding, energy efficiency and computer technology, in developing the scope of projects to be funded, as outlined in the draft Ross Valley School District Facility Master Plan dated November 2008, and incorporated herein by reference. In developing the scope of projects, parents, teachers, staff, students and community members have prioritized the key educational standards and sustainability needs so that the most critical school site needs are addressed. The Board conducted a thorough evaluation at all school sites and received public input and review in developing the scope of school projects to be funded. This input concluded that if these needs were not addressed now, the problem would only get worse and more expensive to address in the future. In approving this Priority School Projects List, the Board of Trustees determines that: As our student enrollment continues to grow, all students should have access to comparable academic facilities. All elementary schools should have dedicated art, music, before school and after school care and multipurpose rooms. The middle school should have new science labs and upgraded or new equipment and facilities so that a quality education can be provided. All schools should have energy efficient lighting, heating and ventilation systems that conserve electricity and save on costly utility bills. All energy efficiency cost savings should be redirected to the classrooms. Upgrading computer technology is critical at every school. All bond money must be spent entirely in the District with no money for administrators' salaries and no money shall be transferred to the State. The Facility Master Plan is on file at the District office and includes the following types of projects: Projects Designed to Maintain the Quality of Public Education Goal and Purpose: To maintain effective student-teacher ratios and provide strong academics integrated with art, music and technology programs: Restore dedicated art, music, before school and after school care and multipurpose rooms at elementary schools. Build new science labs at the middle school. Replace portable classrooms which are near the end of their useful life with permanent classrooms. Projects Designed to Meet Challenges of Enrollment Growth and Maintain Comparable Schools for All Students Goal and Purpose: Since we are growing out of our schools, new and expanded facilities are needed to accommodate enrollment growth, to restore dedicated art, music, before school and after school care and multipurpose rooms, and to ensure that all students have access to comparable schools throughout the District: Increase the number of classrooms, including science labs, at existing operating school sites. Repair or replace old equipment and facilities at the middle school. Upgrade aging restrooms and unsafe play surfaces and fencing. Meet handicap accessibility requirements, as needed. Renovate classrooms on all campuses. Projects Designed to Improve Energy Efficiency of Schools and Save Money Goal and Purpose: To save thousands of dollars in electricity bills, reduce ongoing utility costs and redirect savings to the schools: Install energy efficient systems, including solar panels, energy efficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems for cost savings and energy efficiency. Replace single pane windows with new energy efficient windows. Listed building, repair and rehabilitation projects and upgrades will be completed as needed. Each project is assumed to include its share of furniture, equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, program/ project management, related staff training expenses and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. In addition to the listed repair and construction projects stated above, the Priority School Project List and the Facility Master Plan also include the acquisition of a variety of instructional, maintenance and operational equipment, including interim funding incurred to advance fund projects from the Priority School Projects List, the construction of new classrooms and auxiliary facilities to serve students, installation of signage and fencing, the payment of the costs of preparation of all facility planning, facility assessment reviews, facility master plan updates, environmental studies (including environmental investigation, remediation and monitoring) and construction documentation, temporary housing of dislocated District activities caused by bond projects. The upgrading of technology infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, computers, LCD projectors, portable interface devices, servers, switches, routers, modules, sound projection, laser printers, digital white boards, document projectors, upgrade voice-over IP, call manager and network security/firewall, and other miscellaneous equipment and software. In addition to the projects listed above, the repair and renovation of each of the existing school facilities may include, but not be limited to, some or all of the following: renovation of student restrooms; repair and replacement of heating and ventilation systems; upgrade of facilities for energy efficiencies and to reduce fire risks; repair and replacement of worn-out windows, walls, doors and drinking fountains; installation of wiring and electrical systems to safely accommodate computers, technology and other electrical devices and needs; the construction of new or the expansion of existing multipurpose rooms; repair and replacement of fire alarms, emergency communications and security systems; resurfacing or replacing of hard courts, turf and irrigation systems and campus landscaping; upgrade or replace inadequate libraries, multi-purpose rooms and kitchens; upgrade locker rooms; install lunch shelters, improve student drop-off zones; replacement of portable classrooms; installation of covered walkways; upgrade school site kitchens; repair rubberized play apparatus surfaces; demolition; and construction and upgrade classrooms and of various forms of storage and support spaces, repair, upgrade and install interior and exterior lighting systems, replace water and sewer lines and other plumbing system, replace outdated security fences and security systems. The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the District's receipt of State matching funds and the final costs of each project. In the absence of State matching funds, which the District will aggressively pursue to reduce the District's share of the costs of the projects, the District will not be able to complete some of the projects listed above. Some projects such as gyms, fields and similar community use facilities, may be undertaken as joint use projects in cooperation with other local public or nonprofit agencies. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded and projects are completed. Based on the final costs of each project, certain projects described above may be delayed or may not be completed. Demolition of existing facilities and reconstruction of facilities scheduled for repair and upgrade may occur, if the Board determines that such an approach would be more cost-effective in creating more enhanced and operationally efficient campuses. Neces - sary site preparation/restoration may occur in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing or installing irrigation, storm drain, and utility lines, trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property. Proceeds of the bonds may be used to pay or reimburse the District for the cost of District staff when performing work on or necessary and incidental to bond projects. Bond proceeds shall only be expended for the specific purposes identified herein. The District shall create an account into which proceeds of the bonds shall be deposited and comply with the reporting requirements of Government Code § 53410. NO ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BONDS AUTHORIZED BY THIS PROPOSITION SHALL BE USED ONLY FOR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, OR REPLACEMENT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES, AND NOT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING TEACHER AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES. FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE EXPENDITURE OF BOND MONEY ON THESE PROJECTS IS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT FINANCIAL AC - COUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS. BY LAW, PER FORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDITS WILL BE PERFORMED ANNUALLY, AND ALL BOND EXPENDITURES WILL BE MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (EDUCATION CODE SECTION 15278 ET SEQ.) TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE SPENT AS PROMISED AND SPECIFIED. THE CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MUST INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATION OF A BONA FIDE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND A SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATION. NO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OR VENDORS ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THE CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.