Carpinteria Unified School District bond proposition, Measure U (November 2014)

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A Carpinteria Unified School District bond proposition, Measure U ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Carpinteria Unified School District in Santa Barbara County, California. It was approved.

Measure U authorized the district to increase its debt by $90 million through issuing general obligation bonds in that amount.

A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Measure U.

Election results

Carpinteria Unified School District, Measure U
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		3,901	66.33%
No		1,980	33.67%

Election results via: Santa Barbara County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

Carpinteria Unified School District Repair, Safety and College/Career Readiness Measure. To improve schools, attract and retain quality teachers, and prepare students for college and careers by repairing deteriorating classrooms, bathrooms/leaky roofs, removing asbestos and lead paint, upgrading electrical wiring and classroom technology, repairing, constructing, acquiring educational facilities, sites/equipment, shall Carpinteria Unified School District issue $90,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, requiring annual independent audits, citizens’ oversight, no money for administrators’ salaries or pensions, and all funds used locally?

”

Project list

The full text of the proposed bond measure included these excerpts from the project list:

“

Renovation, Repair and Upgrade Projects Repair or replace leaky roofs, worn out floors. Repair deteriorating plumbing, ventilation and heating systems. Upgrade classrooms, science labs, libraries, career-training facilities and computer systems to keep pace with changing technology. Repair and modernize outdated, deteriorating classrooms and school buildings. Upgrade classrooms and science labs so that they comply with current standards. Replace aging, outdated portables with permanent classrooms that meet 21st Century health, safety and academic standards. Add electrical wiring capacity so that it can handle modern instructional technology. Add/upgrade classrooms, science building, labs and school facilities to prepare students for careers and college, and attract and retain quality teachers. Upgrade vocational and career training classrooms, labs and equipment. Improve access for disabled persons. Repair deteriorating bathrooms. Student Safety Upgrade fire safety systems including fire safety doors, smoke alarms and detectors to make students safe in the event of an emergency. Modernize schools and classrooms to improve access for students with disabilities. Upgrade and install new security systems, such as classroom door locking systems, security lighting, fencing, smoke detectors, and fire alarms and sprinklers. Replace aging, outdated portables with permanent classrooms that meet 21st Century health, safety and academic standards. Repair leaky roofs. Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint from older school sites. Retrofit classrooms to meet current earthquake safety standards. Energy Efficiency – Returning Savings to the Classroom Install energy efficient systems including efficient lighting and solar systems, to save money and protect the quality of instruction in core subjects like reading, math, science, engineering and technology. Replace older heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems with building code compliant, energy efficient systems which will save money, allowing the District to attract and retain quality teachers. Instructional Technology and Wiring Projects Upgrade instructional technology in the classroom for improved student learning. Provide and maintain up-to-date technology, data and communication equipment. Upgrade and expand wireless systems, telecommunications, Internet and network connections, upgrade electrical wiring. Provide improved, up-to-date technology infrastructure.

”

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed and submitted arguments in favor of Measure U:

• Martha L. Hickey, Business Owner
• Beth Cox, CUSD parent
• Marybeth Carty, Community Partnership
• John Franklin, retired banker and community member
• Winfred VanWingerden

Arguments in favor

The following arguments were submitted in favor of Measure U and in response to arguments against the tax:

“	The sole opponent of Measure U is misleading voters with inaccurate, untruthful statements. As longtime Carpinteria residents, leaders, and community members - we know the facts, and we're voting YES on Measure U. Good schools strengthen property values and our local economy. Measure U was placed on the ballot after extensive research into each school, resulting in a detailed facilities master plan. Visit www.cusd.net to see the assessed needs and detailed plan to provide safe schools and quality instruction to prepare out students for college and careers. Portable classrooms - some installed over 35 years ago - are outdated and in need of permanent replacement. Additionally, many of our original school buildings desperately need repair. Our schools are aging, and while nearby communities have ballot measures every few years, it's been almost 20 years since we passed a bond to upgrade Carpinteria schools. The longer we wait for needed repairs and upgrades, the more expensive they will be. Measure U can only be used for facilities, NOT administrators' salaries. Measure U will fund science, design and engineering, library, and technology facilities and fix leaky roofs, unsafe buildings and other basic infrastructure needs. Updated facilities will allow us to retain quality teachers, and prepare students for a bright future. All funds must stay local and cannot be taken away by the State. An independent citizens' oversight committee and mandatory performance and financial audits are required to ensure taxpayer protections. Join us! Please Vote YES on Measure U to protect Carpinteria schools. (quote)	”
—Martha L. Hickey, Beth Cox, Marybeth Carty, John Franklin, Winfred VanWingerden

Opposition

Opponents

Bernard L. Fink submitted arguments in opposition to Measure U and in response to arguments in favor of the tax.

Arguments against

Opponents argued that the bond issue is not the best use of taxpayer money and does not improve the education provided by the district in the most important ways. Critics also noted that the ballot question mentions the goal "to attract and retain quality teachers," which would be more efficiently achieved by a salary increase - not an allowed use of bond money according to Measure U restrictions - than the improvement of classrooms and school facilities.

The following arguments were submitted in opposition to Measure U and in response to arguments supporting the tax:

“	it is remarkable that 63 individual buildings should all fail at once. School upgrades should be limited to individual projects, as needed, that the public can monitor and understand. Quality classrooms make only a minor contribution towards retaining competent teachers. The important thing is salary, which this bond issue does not address. (quote)	”
—Bernard L. Fink

See also

• Local school bonds on the ballot
• School bond elections in California
• Santa Barbara County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Santa Barbara County Elections Office website