League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Humboldt County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure F Authorize Issuance of School Bonds Arcata School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 4,667 / 75.33% Yes votes ...... 1,528 / 24.67% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure F

Our local schools are the most important assets in our community and should be our number one priority. From higher achieving students, to greater neighborhood safety, quality schools make a difference. Our teachers and staff do their best in educating our children, but many classrooms and school facilities in the Arcata Elementary School district are old and inadequate to provide students with the school facilities they need to succeed. Our children need your YES vote on Measure F! While schools have been well maintained, 30-50 year old classrooms must be upgraded since many do not meet 21st century standards. A school improvement measure would allow the District to improve the quality of education provided to local children by giving them the facilities they need to succeed. Therefore, we must invest in our local elementary and middle schools so that they meet today's safety, technological, and educational needs. If passed, Measure F will provide funding to make critical facility improvements at local Arcata schools by: Modernizing outdated electrical systems Improving energy efficiency by installing solar panels Making health, safety and handicapped accessibility improvements Improving student access to computers and modern technology Replacing deteriorating plumbing systems Measure F makes financial sense and protects taxpayers. By law, all bond funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the State. Spending must be reviewed and annually audited by an independent citizens' oversight committee Funds can only be spent to improve local Arcata schools, not for teacher or administrative salaries. Measure F upgrades and renovates old and inadequate classrooms, improves the education of local students, and maintains the quality of our community. That's something we can all support. Please join us and VOTE YEST ON MEASURE F! s/ Alexandra Stillman, Arcata Council/Property Owner s/ Thomas G. Clapp, Rookery Books, Owner s/ Mark E. Wheetley, Arcata City Council s/ Keith Rice, President, Kiwanis Club of Arcata s/ Dan Hauser, City Manager, Retired (No arguments against Measure F were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement

An election will be held in the Arcata Elementary School District (the "District") on November 6, 2012 to authorize the sale of $7,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The following information is submitted in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code. 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 $.0300 per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2013- 14. 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 $.0300 per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2018- 19. 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 $.0300 per $100 ($30.00 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. s/ Pamela Jones Superintendent Arcata Elementary School District

Full Text of Measure F

INTRODUCTION To renovate and modernize outdated classrooms, restrooms and school facilities; improve energy efficiency by installing solar panels; modernize outdated electrical systems; make health and safety improvements; improve student access to computers and modern technology; and replace aging plumbing systems; shall the Arcata Elementary School District issue $7,000,000 of bonds at legal interest rates, have an independent citizens' oversight committee and have NO money taken by the state or used for administrative salaries? 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 $7.0 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 here by certifies that it has evaluated safety,classsize 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 Sections 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. Government Code Accountability Requirements. As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, (1) the specific purpose of the bonds is set forth in this Full Text of the Measure, (2) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in this Measure, and not for any other purpose, (3) the proceeds of the bonds, when and if issued, will be deposited into a building fund to be held by the Humboldt County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code, and (4) the Superintendent of the District shall cause an annual report to be filed with the Governing Board of the District not later than January 1 of each year, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the projects listed in this Measure, as required by Sections 53410 and 53411 of the Government Code. FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS No Teacher or Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure shall be used only for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities and the payment and/or prepayment of school facility leases, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. STATE MATCHING FUNDS The following statement is included in this measure pursuant to Education Code Section 15122.5: Approval of this measure does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Arcata Elementary School District that are the subject of bonds under this measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this measure. 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. 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 Governing Board of the District has certified that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the list of school facilities projects shown below. Scope of Projects. Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, acquire, lease, equip, furnish and otherwise improve the facilities of the District. The specific school facilities projects to be funded include, but shall not be limited to: Replace and/or upgrade electrical systems to meet current electrical and accessibility codes and increased capacity Improve energy efficiency by installing solar panels Improve technology infrastructure and increase student access to computers and modern technology Make health and safety improvements Repair or replace deteriorating plumbing systems Repair or replace outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with building code compliant, 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, and playground equipment. Renovate, repair, construct and/or upgrade classrooms, restrooms and school facilities Upgrade school site parking, utilities and grounds, including the installation of signage and fencing Construct and improve P.E. fields and facilities for school and community use Upgrade lighting, windows and make other energy efficiency improvements Make security improvements throughout the District, such as installing security fencing, cameras and lighting Repair and upgrade roofs, walls, and floors Install, replace or upgrade fire alarm and security systems Upgrade, renovate and equip science labs, multipurpose rooms, photography labs, auditoriums, libraries, and other school facilities Repair or replace aging school buses to improve student safety Federal and State-mandated Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) safety upgrades including playground equipment replacement Abate and remove hazardous materials identified prior or during construction Repair, replace and/or upgrade paved surfaces, turf, and other grounds to eliminate safety hazards and improve outside instructional areas Acquire and/or lease instructional, maintenance and operational equipment, including acquisition of property by the payment and/or prepayment outstanding leases. The listed projects include the payment of interim funding incurred to advance fund projects from the project list and the costs of preparation of all facility planning, facility studies, assessment reviews, facility master plan preparation and updates, environmental studies (including environmental investigation, remediation and monitoring), design and construction documentation, and temporary housing of dislocated District activities caused by construction projects. 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 and staff restrooms; repair and replacement of heating and ventilation systems; upgrade of facilities for energy efficiencies; repair and replacement of worn-out and leaky roofs, windows, walls, doors and drinking fountains; replace aging school buses to improve student safety; acquisition of any of the facilities on the project list through temporary lease or lease purchase arrangements, or purchase option under a lease for any of these authorized facilities; installation of wiring and electrical systems to safely accommodate computers, technology and other electrical devices and needs; upgrades or construction of support facilities, including administrative, physical education/athletic facilities and performing arts buildings and maintenance yards; repair and replacement of fire alarms, emergency communications and security systems; resurfacing or replacing of hard courts, turf and irrigation systems and campus landscaping and play fields; expand parking; install interior and exterior painting and floor covering; demolition; and construction of various forms of storage and support spaces, upgrade classrooms, bleachers, kitchens, repair, upgrade and install interior and exterior lighting systems; replace outdated security fences and security systems. Upgrading of technology infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, computers, LCD projectors, portable interface devices, servers, switches, routers, modules, sound projection systems, laser printers, digital white boards, document projectors, upgrade voice-over-IP, call manager and network security/firewall, wireless technology systems and other miscellaneous equipment and software. 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. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control. Some projects throughout the District, such as gyms, fields and performing arts facilities, may be undertaken as joint use projects in cooperation with other local publicornon-profitagencies. Thefinalcostofeachprojectwillbedeterminedas plans and construction documents are finalized, construction bids are received, construction contracts are awarded and projects are completed. Based on the final costs of each project, certain of the 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. Necessary 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, 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.