SEARCHWhat is Measure J1?
Measure J1 was a bond measure that was passed by voters on the November 8, 2016, ballot to fund critical facility upgrades and improvements for San Leandro schools.
Thanks to the passage of Measure J1, the San Leandro Unified School District received funds to support student learning through technology upgrades and facility enhancements.
Why was Measure J1 necessary?
The State of California pays for the costs of running a school district — including salaries for teachers and staff and school supplies. However, state tax revenue is not provided to school districts for major construction projects such as renovating and modernizing school sites. These types of construction projects are called ‘capital improvements’ – and each community is responsible for raising money to pay for such repairs and projects.
What have Measure J1 funds been used for?
Many of our school district’s permanent buildings were built decades ago, with two schools celebrating their 100th anniversaries recently. As such, several needed repairs and renovations to meet new building standards and serve the students with a better learning environment. We also recognized the need to bring 21st century learning into our schools with state-of-the-art technology.
All work occurred in three phases. Phase One began in Summer 2017 and was completed well ahead of schedule in Summer 2020.
Phase 1:
- Technology upgrades for students and staff
- Heating/ventilation systems improvement
- Roof and plumbing repairs
- Updates to district emergency systems
- Library renovations
Phase 2 & 3:
- Addition of new facilities and equipment to support instruction in math, science, engineering, arts and technology
- Replacement of aging portable classrooms with modern modular buildings
Who decided which schools will be built or renovated and when?
The priority list of projects was developed through a comprehensive process of evaluating a combination of key factors based on school input, board recommendations, and the district’s Strategic Plan. Community members, school site faculty, city and district administration, and our Board of Trustees had extensive input and completed a thoughtful process over the course of several years. Needs were determined on criteria such as current state of buildings and building code compliance, school site capacity, enrollment shifts, and equity.
Who has provided oversight of Measure J1?
To ensure that Measures J1 funds were spent according to plan, the Board established an all-volunteer Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), made up of volunteers who represent specific constituencies, such as senior citizens, parents, businesses, and the community-at-large. The CBOC is responsible for overseeing the expenditure of money to ensure bond revenues are used as voters intended and communicating its findings and progress to the public.