Measure Q (Nov. 2020)

The Board of Trustees of the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District is committed to safe and secure schools with upgraded classrooms, libraries, science labs, restrooms and technology systems to keep pace with today's learning standards. The Board evaluated the District's urgent and critical facility needs, including safety issues, class size reduction and computer and information technology in developing the scope of projects to be funded. In approving this Project List the Board of Trustees determines that the District should:

1. acquire equipment and instructional technology and improve distance learning and student access to the internet;
2. upgrade heating and cooling systems;
3. renovate aging restrooms that are so deteriorated, many children do not use them;
4. replace outdated electrical wiring throughout the District so that improved technology would be available to all students;
5. improve student safety, security and school emergency preparedness
6. adhere to specific FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY safeguards such as:
   1. Sacramento must be prohibited from taking any of the funds raised,
   2. All expenditures must be subject to annual independent financial audits,
   3. No funds can be used for administrators' salaries and pensions,
   4. All funds must be subject to local control,
   5. An independent citizens' oversight committee must be appointed to ensure that all funds are spent only as authorized.

The Project List includes upgrades and improvements at the following schools: August Boeger Middle School, Robert Sanders Elementary School, Ida Jew Academies, Valla Vista Elementary School, Mt. Pleasant STEAM Elementary School.

School Renovation, Repair and Student Safety Projects

Goal and Purpose: Since protecting quality education in local schools and the health, safety and security of our children on campuses requires renovating, repairing and upgrading outdated school buildings, bathrooms, classrooms, computers, technology, school libraries and equipment to give all children have the resources they need to learn and stay up-to-date with the latest advances in technology and education, local schools will benefit from projects including:

• Increase all student access to technology and the internet by purchasing equipment and improving technology infrastructure.
• Acquire equipment and technology designed to improve distance learning.
• Replace outdated, inefficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
• Replace aging restrooms and toilets.
• Repair or replace old leaky roofs.
• Upgrade old electrical wiring throughout the District.
• Upgrade school emergency preparedness.
• Improve handicap accessibility.
• Repair or replace unsafe athletic fields, playgrounds and playground equipment.
• Build new classrooms and renovate old classrooms and facilities.
• Upgrade food service facilities and kitchens.
• Upgrade safety and security systems.
• Upgrade or replace classroom equipment and instructional technology.

The listed projects will be completed as needed. Each project is assumed to include its share of furniture, equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, program management, staff training expenses and a customary contingency, and escalation for unforeseen design and construction costs. In addition to the listed projects stated above, the Project List also includes the payment of the costs of preparation of all facility planning, facility assessment reviews, environmental studies, construction documentation, inspection and permit fees, and temporary housing of dislocated District activities caused by bond projects. The upgrading of technology infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, computers, projectors, portable interface devices, servers, switches, routers, modules, sound projection systems, printers, digital white boards, document projectors, upgrade voice-over-IP, intercoms, audio/visual equipment, phone systems, call manager and network security/firewall, cloud-based systems and storage and other miscellaneous equipment and software. The repair of school facilities includes, campus accessibility, utilities, and grounds, playground equipment, security fencing, hard court surfaces, shade structures for student assembly and protecting students from inclement weather during lunch, libraries, asphalt and paved surfaces, District support facilities, fire sensors; renovate classrooms, science labs, multi-purpose rooms and school facilities; upgrade plumbing systems; athletic and play fields turf may be upgraded for safety and operational efficiency; renovate and paint interior and exterior building surfaces to extend their useful life; security, safety and communication systems and equipment; fire safety systems and alarms and bells; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system upgrades; window and floor coverings (including tiles and carpeting); upgrade energy efficiency and irrigation systems; improvements and furnishings and/or other electronic equipment and systems. The Project List also includes all of the projects authorized by Measure JJ, approved by the voters of the District on November 6, 2018, and the refinancing of any outstanding lease obligations, or the bridge loans taken to initiate voter approved projects. 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 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 enhanced and operationally efficient campuses. Necessary site preparation/restoration and landscaping, 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, redirecting fire access, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property.

Bond proceeds shall be expended only for the specific purposes identified herein. 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 the bond projects. 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.

In accordance with Education Code Section 15272, the Board of Trustees will appoint a citizens' oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that funds are spent only on district projects and for no other purpose. The expenditure of bond money on these projects is subject to stringent financial accountability requirements. By law, 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. 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.

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.

Tax Rate Statement Regarding Proposed $12,000,000
Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
General Obligation Bonds

By Elida MacArthur, Superintendent, Mount Pleasant Elementary School District

An election will be held in the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District (the "District") on November 3, 2020, to authorize the sale of up to $12,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the measure. If such bonds are authorized and sold, principal and interest on the bonds will be payable only from the proceeds of ad valorem 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. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, the following information is provided:

1. The best estimate of the average annual tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue over the entire duration of the bond debt service, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation). The final fiscal year in which the tax is anticipated to be collected is 2033-34.
2. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation). It is estimated that such rate would be levied starting in fiscal year 2021-22 and following.
3. The best estimate of the total debt service, including the principal and interest, that would be required to be repaid if all the bonds are issued and sold is approximately $13.5million.

Voters should note the estimated tax rate is based on the assessed value (not market value) of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls. 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 attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only, which amounts are not maximum amounts and are not binding upon the District. The actual debt service, tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those used to provide the estimates set forth above, due to factors such as variations in the timing of bond sales, the par amount of bonds sold and market interest rates available at the time of each sale, actual assessed valuations over the term of the bonds, and other factors. The date and amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on the need for project funds and other considerations. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on conditions in the bond market at the time of sale. Actual future assessed valuations 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.