What is the need?

The District is dedicated to serving the community and offering an excellent education for the community’s elementary-aged students. The Arcohe School campus is aging and, due to increased enrollment, is nearing capacity. It is critical that the District increase space in order to adequately house all of its students. The community has a critical and increasing need of educational facilities and infrastructure, to provide the additional classroom space and other facilities and technology need to support high-quality instruction in math, science, and agriculture. In addition to classroom expansion, the school is also in critical need of renovation and improvement, in order to upgrade equipment, retrofit for safety and security, upgrade fire safety systems, increase access, repair or replace deteriorating and leaky roofs, and old plumbing, sewer, heating, ventilation, and electrical systems.

Beyond repairing, expanding, and upgrading the Arcohe School, the District is exploring options for partnering with the County to develop a joint-use community center which would include educational purposes.

Dedicated funding is required to meet these needs and provide safe, updated classrooms and facilities needed to support high-quality instruction to all students in our District.

Asking the District’s voters to approve a general obligation bond is a necessary step to securing both local and state funding. The State of California requires a local match, funded primarily through local general obligation bonds, for school districts wishing to pursue matching state funds for the upgrade or replacement of school buildings and facilities. The millions of dollars potentially available through the State match allows local taxpayers to benefit from the tax dollars they already pay to Sacramento.

It is imperative that our students are housed in safe, complete, comprehensive, and efficient facilities. We need to act locally to build, upgrade, and refurbish safe, clean, and modern schools to ensure our students have the educational opportunities they deserve.

What are the accountability features?

If the bonds are approved, the Board of Trustees will implement the following accountability measures in accordance with State law:

1. Use the bond proceeds only for the purposes authorized under Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, including construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and related uses, as specifically set forth in this Measure, and costs incident thereto, and not for any other purpose, including salaries and other routine school operating expenses;

2. Conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the projects and uses listed in this Measure;

3. Conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for school facilities projects and uses listed in this Measure; and

4. Establish and appoint members to an independent citizens’ oversight committee to ensure the bonds are used only for the projects and uses listed in this Measure.

What will the money be used for?

The following list includes both projects that can be completed using the bond proceeds, along with State matching funds and other building funds the District is projected to receive and projects that are planned and needed but whose construction is contingent on the amount of bond funds available, plus the amount of State matching and other building funds the District may receive in the future, which is a function of the State building program rules, passage of State bonds, and the growth rate of the District. The completion of specific projects is also contingent on final project costs.

School Safety

The Arcohe School has outdated or nonexistent school safety and security systems which need to be improved. Bond funds will be used to:

• Improve emergency communications systems;

• Install campus security systems including security cameras, lighting, door locks, and fencing;

• Upgrade fire safety systems, including safety doors, smoke alarms, and smoke detectors; and

• Improve access to school facilities for students with disabilities.

Repair Aging Facilities

The Arcohe School’s facilities are over 40 years old and in need of upgrades and repairs. Bond funds will be used to:

• Repair or replace leaky roofs;

• Repair and/or upgrade plumbing systems and ensure clean drinking water;

• Repair and replace electrical systems;

• Repair or replace outdated hearing, air conditioning, and ventilation systems; and

• Repair and renovate aging classrooms, labs, and facilities.

Classroom Expansion

The Arcohe School is at capacity and additional classroom space is needed. Bond funds will be used to add additional classroom space and other educational facilities including updating or adding science, engineering, math, technology, and agricultural labs/education facilities. In addition, the District may upgrade physical education/athletic facilities to support student health and fitness, and may expand existing facilities to add multipurpose and community spaces.

Community Center

The District is seeking to partner with the County of Sacramento to develop a joint use community center, which would include educational purposes. Bond funds may be used, in addition to other sources, to partially fund the project in partnership with the County.

What might the tax increase look like for an average Herald household?

The Assessed Value of median priced home in Herald is $444,457.

The Assessed Value of an average priced home in Herald, is $465,378.

Measure M is asking voters whether or not to increase property taxes by $29.50 per $100,000 of assessed value per year.

$444,457 x $29.50 = $131.11/year (median)

$465,378 x $29.50 = $137.29/year (average)

If the bond measure passes, the district anticipates being able to raise a total of $5.8 million.