Download the Measure S Fact Sheet in English and Spanish by clicking here.

On November 4, 2008, voters in the Tracy Joint Unified School District will be asked to vote on Measure S, a $43.1 million school bond. Bond funds will be used to address the most critical renovation and modernization needs at the District’s oldest elementary and middle schools. Measure S funds are also needed in order to acquire additional State matching funds.  Finally, Measure S funds will be used to upgrade technology and provide security systems to enhance student safety in all of the schools where the district serves students from Kindergarten through high school.

Measure S funds will be used to:

• Renovate, modernize and reconstruct the District’s older elementary and middle schools;

• Provide students access to modern classrooms facilities;

• Replace old and obsolete heating, cooling and ventilation systems with modern, energy efficient systems;

• Upgrade and improve electrical systems increasing the ability of students and teachers to use classroom computers and technology;

• Replace aging plumbing, water and sewer lines and upgrade restrooms;

• Address deteriorated roofs;

• Repair leaking water and sewer lines.

Measure S will also raise the funds needed to:

• Upgrade technology uniformly;

• Meet district requirements to provide charter school facilities;

• Provide security systems to insure school safety.

The elementary and middle schools in Tracy are old.  The average age of the district’s oldest elementary and middle schools is 55 years with one built more than 70 years ago. Measure S funds will be used to renovate, modernize and reconstruct these schools to provide all students with comparable classrooms.  Funds will also be used for technology upgrades and the purchase and installation of modern security and surveillance systems.

Measure S provides for strict accountability as bond funds are spent. The School Board adopted a very specific resolution when calling for the election. All of the construction projects are listed in the resolution, and must be independently audited each year. In addition, an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee will monitor and review all bond expenditures. This volunteer committee of local residents and taxpayers will make sure that all bond funds are spent as planned for the benefit of local students. 

All of the funds will be spent in the School Facilities Improvement District (SFID) created for this bond election. The SFID contains the part of the school district serving students from kindergarten through 12^th grade. None of these bond funds will be spent in neighboring elementary districts.

None of the money would be used for school administrator or teacher salaries.  All of the money generated by Measure S will pay for school improvements and upgrades as outlined in the District’s Project List.  The average yearly cost to property owners in the SFID would be $15 per $100,000 of assessed valuation (not market value).

Construction costs cannot be paid for by lottery funds.  State law (Government Code Section 8880.5) forbids the use of lottery funds for school construction.

• There are a number of vital reasons why we are preparing to ask the community to support our District with another bond this November.
• Currently, interest rates are low. Therefore it is a good time to pursue a bond as more of the community’s money will be able to be used for projects.
• Also, the bid climate favors school construction. This savings can then be turned into completing an increased number of projects. Many of the large projects from our Measure E bond list are coming in at lower than projected prices.
• We have met or are actively working to meet the basic needs of both of our high schools. Now, it is time to address the needs of our older elementary and middle schools.
• The proposed projects will represent savings in man power, labor and money as we address long-term faculty needs at our older schools. It is a duplicate idea and plan as we are doing at THS. We’ll save maintenance money and manpower at THS in the long run because we have replaced and/or renovated older buildings, replaced old HVAC systems, etc.
• All students should have the opportunity to attend schools that are modernized and have up-to-date, fully-functioning facilities, plumbing and HVAC systems.
• In addition to the projects on our older elementary and middle school campuses, we are also proposing cabling and technology infrastructure at all schools to accommodate more advanced technology as well as security cameras.
• By addressing these facility needs, we are investing in our future facilities as well as our current and future students of Tracy. Ultimately, it is our goal to have all of our schools modern and updated places of which we are proud.

Do you have questions about the November 2008 bond?  If so, please e-mail Communications Specialist Jessica Cardoza at jcardoza@tusd.net.