Potential Bond Measure
Measure P for Safety, Security and Success for Poway Unified Students
Poway Unified School District is proud that our schools are among the best in California in terms of academic performance and providing high-quality educational opportunities to all students. Our high-achieving schools make our communities a desirable place to live and protect the value of our homes.
Updating Facilities to Prepare Students
Many of our local schools and facilities are outdated and deteriorating and need to be repaired and upgraded to ensure they are meeting current safety and academic standards. By the year 2023, if improvements are not made, 62% of our campuses will be considered "poor" condition. You can view our recent facilities condition assessment below.
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Clockwise from top left: Aging portables at Shoal Creek Elementary, broken rain gutters at Rancho Bernardo High School, damaged stucco at Garden Road Elementary, leaking ceiling at Highland Ranch Elementary)
We also want to ensure that all students have equal access to classrooms, labs and career-training facilities that will prepare them for future success, necessary upgrades need to be made. In order for our students to succeed in college, careers and life, they must be skilled in the use of today’s technologies and have a comprehensive background in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Improvements to outdated facilities and classrooms would enhance school safety and security and provide a high-quality education and safe learning environment at all schools.
Given that PUSD is the lowest funded unified school district in San Diego County, it has become increasingly difficult to accomplish these goals without additional funding sources beyond what the state provides. Other school districts have relied on their communities for facilities funding, by regularly passing bond measures. For example, San Diego Unified School District has passed three multi-billion dollar bonds over a decade (in 2008, 2012, and 2018). Poway Unified’s last bond measure was in February 2008.
We also want to ensure that all students have equal access to classrooms, labs and career-training facilities that will prepare them for future success, necessary upgrades need to be made. In order for our students to succeed in college, careers and life, they must be skilled in the use of today’s technologies and have a comprehensive background in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Improvements to outdated facilities and classrooms would enhance school safety and security and provide a high-quality education and safe learning environment at all schools.
Given that PUSD is the lowest funded unified school district in San Diego County, it has become increasingly difficult to accomplish these goals without additional funding sources beyond what the state provides. Other school districts have relied on their communities for facilities funding, by regularly passing bond measures. For example, San Diego Unified School District has passed three multi-billion dollar bonds over a decade (in 2008, 2012, and 2018). Poway Unified’s last bond measure was in February 2008.
Dedicated Local Funding for School Improvements
The Poway Unified School District Board of Education is placing Measure P on the March 2020 ballot. You can read the full resolution, ballot measure text, and project list for Measure P below (pages 182-196).
If approved by local voters, Measure P would:
ENSURE SAFETY:
- Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint where needed
- Repair or replace leaky roofs, rusty plumbing, failing sewer lines and outdated electrical systems
- Upgrade older schools so they meet the same academic and safety standards as newer schools
ENSURE SECURITY:
- Improve student safety and campus security systems including security fencing, security cameras, emergency communications systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers
ENSURE SUCCESS:
- Provide the classrooms, facilities and technology needed to support high quality instruction in science, technology, engineering, arts and math
- Provide modern labs and career-training facilities so students are prepared for college and in-demand careers in fields like health sciences, engineering, technology, robotics and skilled trades
The bond project list is divided into five categories: student and campus safety and security, modernization and improving building systems, future-focused learning environments to support STEM and CTE education, growth and changing programmatic needs, and energy efficiency and sustainability. All schools will receive student and campus security improvements. School safety is a priority. You can see the schools for the additional planned projects here, pages 190-193.
Additionally, to provide you with some historical context on past facilities projects and improvements at each school site, we've created easy-to-read informational flyers for you here: School Facilities Improvements Profiles. Keep in mind that the 2020 bond measure may not only benefit your own child’s school but also their future schools they will be attending. Even if you don't have children in our schools, preserving our community's high property values is dependent on maintaining the quality of our schools.
Tax Rates
Measure P could generate up to $448 million, which would cost the typical homeowner less than $200 per year or $0.50 per day. The tax rate would be $34 for each $100,000 of property assessed value (not market value), to repair and improve local schools.
This graph shows the combined tax rates for SFID (School Facility Improvement District) or areas within PUSD that do not pay Mello Roos, mostly in the Ranch Bernardo and Poway communities. Homeowners in SFIDs are currently paying on PUSD's previous bond measures: Proposition U was passed by voters in 2002 and Proposition C was passed in 2008. Payments for Prop U (grey shading) end in 2031, just as payments for Prop C (light blue) peak in 2032, keeping tax rates relatively flat, with only a slight increase, then falling year after year. The striped bars at the top would be the additional amount proposed for the new 2020 bond measure. PUSD's new leadership team will ensure the District will not issue any capital appreciation bonds (CABs) and will keep the bond repayment ratio well below 2.5 to 1.
CFD (Community Facility District) homeowners, or those who pay Mello Roos taxes, are not paying on Proposition U or C, PUSD's previous bond measures. This chart shows what the annual tax bill would be for homeowners, based on assessed property value (not market value), if the 2020 bond measure passes.
Measure P would require a clear system of accountability, including a project list detailing how bond funds would be used and independent citizens’ oversight would help ensure bond funds are spent as voters approved. All funds raised by Measure P will stay local to support students and could not be taken by the State. The bond measure would also qualify PUSD to receive an additional $90 million in matching funds from the state facilities program (money that would otherwise go to other school districts).
Measure P would require a clear system of accountability, including a project list detailing how bond funds would be used and independent citizens’ oversight would help ensure bond funds are spent as voters approved. All funds raised by Measure P will stay local to support students and could not be taken by the State. The bond measure would also qualify PUSD to receive an additional $90 million in matching funds from the state facilities program (money that would otherwise go to other school districts).
Additional Information
For more details about Poway Unified School District’s school improvement bond measure, please view the following links:
Questions?
Exploring our local funding options is a community-driven process. We welcome your feedback and questions regarding this measure. Please contact Ron Little at [email protected] or (858) 521-2800 with questions or comments.