LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education will meet Wednesday in a special session to consider placing a $9 billion school-improvement bond measure on the November ballot.
According to a staff report submitted to the board by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, the proposed bond measure would “provide funds to upgrade, modernize, and replace aging and deteriorating school facilities, including school technology infrastructure and equipment, to provide safe, up-to-date facilities for 21st century student learning and college and career preparedness; enhance accessibility; support the health and well-being of students by enhancing and expanding outdoor spaces and food services for students; and promote energy efficiency.”
The proposed ballot measure requires a two-thirds vote of the LAUSD board, or five out of the seven members. If the measure is placed on the November ballot, it will require approval from 55% of voters.
If approved, the bond measure would translate to an increase in property taxes within the district, estimated at 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The report to the board notes that over 60% of the district’s school buildings are more than 50 years old and are “desperately in need of upgrades.”
“Despite the upgrades that have already been completed or are underway, current estimates show that collectively Los Angeles Unified schools have over $80 billion of unfunded school facility and technology needs, and those needs grow every year,” according to the report.
According to the report, key goals of the bond measure would be to:
— enhancing campus safety and earthquake resilience;
— modernize aging and deteriorating facilities;
— upgrade school buildings to ensure they are “functional places for teaching and learning”;
— improve access for people with disabilities;
— reduce “disparities” in facilities between newer and older campuses to “provide equitable learning environments across the district”;
— upgrade educational technology, internet and digital tools;
— enhance and expand outdoor spaces and food services; and
— promote energy efficiency in school buildings and other infrastructure, including the transition to electric school buses.
The board called a special meeting to consider the proposed special election, since Friday is the deadline to submit materials to the county Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office to get the matter on the Nov. 5 ballot.
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