QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
ABOUT MEASURE K

Ø      WHAT IS THIS BOND MEASURE FOR K. I. D. S.?

        This Measure is a $90 million general obligation bond measure that will provide for permanent classrooms to replace temporary portables, continue the upgrading of deteriorating plumbing and electrical systems, refurbish auditoriums, improve safety and security, improve school interiors, replace aging classroom furniture, and complete repairs and modernization work in the Beverly Hills Unified School District unable to be addressed in the previous bond measure.

Ø      WHAT WOULD THE PASSAGE OF THIS MEASURE MEAN TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT?

        All of our district facilities are 71 to 87 years old. In 1993, voters took the first major step in repairing and upgrading our local schools. Two months following the passage, the Northridge earthquake caused severe damage to our schools. This natural disaster required the Board of Education to refocus the original bond goals and dedicate substantially more dollars of bond proceeds to seismic repairs than anticipated. While many projects have been completed, there is still additional work to be completed which is outlined on the project list. Every school in the District will receive improvements from this measure. Among many projects outlined as continuing needs include: existing school interiors would be repaired and rehabilitated, classroom interiors would be patched, painted, and refurnished with wall and floor coverings, auditoriums would be refurbished and improved handicapped access, as required, would be provided.

Ø      WHAT HAPPENS IF THE MEASURE FAILS?

Without this measure’s success our district simply will not have the financial ability to keep our facilities at acceptable Beverly Hills standards.  The school district will be required to borrow funds to finance critical repairs and required upgrading of facilities.  The district will have to repay the loan from its general fund which will result in cuts and elimination of educational programs and staff.  Our students and community will suffer without the funds from this bond measure.

Ø      WHAT’S IN IT FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS?

 Improved schools are an investment in our community. A detailed list of projects for each school is available and will be printed in each voter’s sample ballot. The project list can also be reviewed in the BHUSD Business Office.

Ø      HOW DOES BEVERLY HILLS AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM MEASURE K?

       A strong public school system is the heart of any community. When residents move to our community they often state that strong school's with excellent programs, teachers and facilities were a major reason for their relocation. Businesses look at the school system of any city when deciding where to locate.

Ø      WILL THE BOND IMPROVE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION?

      Yes. Despite our students’ high achievement, the lack of properly equipped classrooms negatively affects instruction. Improved classroom environments will allow teachers to more effectively deliver instruction. Replacement of aging portable classrooms with permanent facilities will provide improved instructional settings. Renovated science laboratories will give our students an opportunity for more “hands on” experiments, and greater access to research information. Upgraded classrooms, furniture, fixtures and buildings will provide safe, quality learning environments. Our students are consistently scoring higher and higher each year on the SAT-9, Golden State exams, AP exams, SAT’s, and in other scholar/honor programs. Our elementary schools and middle schools rank at the top of the state based standardized test results. Although our high school has been designated as a National Blue Ribbon School and a New American High School, we are constantly seeking to improve our programs and services to better prepare our students for successful entry into colleges/universities and the workforce.

Ø      IF THIS MEASURE PASSES, WHEN WILL WORK ON SCHOOLS BEGIN?

        Immediately. High priority projects include the completion of all district restroom renovations and the completion of Beverly Vista. (For example, of the 29 restrooms at Beverly Hills High School, 7 were completely upgraded with 22 remaining.) Other high priority projects that would be initiated in 2002 include the removal of all portable classrooms, improvements to school exteriors and classroom interior renovations including the replacement of aging student desks, chairs and classroom furniture and security systems.

Ø      IS THE DISTRICT GOING TO USE BOND MONEY TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS?

        The Bond includes money for the construction of new buildings and classrooms facilities to replace temporary portable classrooms and to build a new science and technology center at Beverly Hills High School that was not able to be completed in the previous bond.

Ø      HOW DID THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DETERMINE THE $90 MILLION FIGURE?

        The school district has completed extensive studies of facilities needs at each of the five school sites for over a decade. The most recent assessments included an analysis of the current modernization programs, life, safety and security needs, deferred maintenance, capital renewal and program enhancement upgrades. Our school district has been very aggressive in applying for all eligible state funds to lower the cost of projects to local taxpayers. Existing funding sources were studied including the state building and modernization program; statewide bonds; State Deferred Maintenance, and the District General Fund.

Ø      WHAT IS A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND? 

        General Obligation Bond funds can only be used for projects such as the construction, repair and upgrade of classrooms and school buildings. Each series of our G. O. bonds will be repaid over a 25 year period. The loan repayment comes from a tax on all property located within the district boundaries. This funding method is widely used by California school districts, including twenty-five that were passed by voters this past November.

Ø      HOW MUCH WILL MY PROPERTY TAXES BE RAISED UNDER THIS MEASURE? 

        The best estimate according to our advisors of the average tax rate, which would be required to fund this bond issue, is 2.703 cents per $100 ($27.03 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.   

Ø      WHAT IS ASSESSED VALUATION? 

        Do not confuse assessed valuation with market value. Assessed valuations are typically much lower than the price you could sell a property for. Check your property tax statement for your current assessed valuation. Or call the Los Angeles County Assessors Office for more information at (213) 974-3211.

Ø      HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THIS BOND MONEY WILL BE SPENT WISELY? 

If the bond is approved, by law, an independent citizen’s oversight “watchdog” committee will be created. Their purpose will be to review all expenditures from the bond to assure that the money is spent on facility projects approved by voters. The law also prescribes the composition of the committee.

·         One business community person

·         One person representing a senior citizens’ organization

·         A taxpayers; association representative

·         A parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District

·         An active parent-teacher organization representative who has a child enrolled in the District

·         Two other representatives from organizations yet to be determined but who have expertise in construction and finance.

The law states that the committee cannot include a District employee, official, vendor, contractor or consultant of the District. The law requires the committee to be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board. 

Ø      HOW IS FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EXPENDITURES ASSURED?

Section 1(b) of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 requires that the Board of Education:

conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been expended only on the projects listed in Exhibit A-1; contained within all Voters sample ballot.

conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1;

establish and appoint members to an independent citizens’ oversight committee in accordance with Sections 15278, 15280, and 15282 of the Act;

apply the bond proceeds only to the specific purposes stated in the ballot proposition;

cause creation of accounts into which bond proceeds shall be deposited; and cause the preparation of an annual report pursuant to Government Code Sections 53410 and 53411. 

Ø      WHY CAN’T THE DISTRICT PAY FOR THEIR FACILITIES NEEDS OUT OF THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET?

        Over the past twenty years, the state has dramatically under-funded state school building, modernization, and deferred maintenance programs. Beverly Hills Unified School District schools were built between 71 and 87 years ago and they have reached the age at which major overhaul and modernization is required. Added to this challenge was the implementation of the Class Size Reduction Initiative which necessitated temporary portable classrooms. All recent Governors have stated on many occasions that our state’s school bond matching money will only be available to school districts whose voters pass local bonds to support school construction and school modernization needs.