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Measure E


Vacaville is growing, and so is our enrollment at Kairos and the Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD).  VUSD has added 300 new students to their schools and Kairos has added nearly 200 in the last two years alone. In the next five years, both are projected to add about 500 more. There are several elementary schools that are already experiencing overcrowding. If passed, Measure E will fund the construction of a new school and classrooms to accommodate overcrowding and meet the needs of our growing city.

 

What specifically would Kairos receive from Measure E: 

The following would occur in phase 1 of the Bond Measure Improvements: 

* Renovating or replacing the portables used by grades 5-8 at the Elm Campus

* Relocating the main office to the front of the school to make it safer for the Kairos Elm Campus 

* Two new portables to support the special education program at Kairos' 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

What is the measure?
The measure is a General obligation (G.O.) bond program. It will provide funding for new construction, modernization, and renovation projects at the district’s 19 old and outdated school sites. The average age of District schools is 52 years, and Kairos Public Schools Elm Campus, one of our oldest, was built in 1947 over 70 years ago. 

What is the project list for the measure? 

Over the last few years with input from staff, teachers, parents, civic leaders, and residents, the District prepared a Facilities Master Plan that identifies around $500 million in needed construction projects, modernizations, and improvements to safety and security.  Specific priority projects identified include:

  • Constructing a new school to reduce student overcrowding.
  • Upgrading and enhancing safety and security (i.e. replacing old fire alarm systems, school communications and PA upgrades, auto-lock systems, strategic fencing and improved gates) on school campuses.
  • Infrastructure improvements such as replacing leaky roofs, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and sewers.
  • Modernization of aging classrooms, and replacing old portables with modular classrooms.
  • Providing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) labs and classrooms.
  • Upgrading student support facilities (MPRs, Libraries, Cafeterias, Student Services Offices.

Has the district ever passed a school improvement measure?

Yes. District voters have approved two school improvement measures since 2000. Funds from those measures were used to construct new classrooms, repair and renovate aging classrooms and modernize facilities and improve classroom technology. Some examples include:

  • Vacaville High School - New classroom buildings, parking lots, gym, tennis courts, stadium upgrades.
  • Will C. Wood High School - Wildcat stadium, Science classroom building.
  • Markham Elementary - Multipurpose room, kitchen, classrooms, playgrounds.
  • Willis Jepson Middle School - Kitchen, classroom modernizations.
  • Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy - Relocate & modernize campus, kitchen and multipurpose, science labs.
  • Sierra Vista K-8 School - Kitchen, multipurpose room, science labs and campus modernization.

This Measure would add much needed classroom space to our district, improve safety, and help bring more of our schools up to 21st century standards.

What will the measure cost and how much funding will be generated?

The new Bond Measure will cost $48/$100K of assessed value and generate $317 million for school facilities projects. This is based on a property’s assessed value, not market value. You can find that assessed value on your statement from the county assessor's office if you are a property owner.

How can I be sure that funds will be spent on improving our local school facilities?

By law, all bond funds have to be spent locally and cannot be taken by the state. Furthermore, an independent citizens’ oversight committee will be established to ensure that bond funds are properly spent. By law, we also conduct independent annual audits, and no bond money can be used for teacher or administrative salaries. Finally, the district has established a 20+ year track record of quality school facilities improvements and responsible financial stewardship with both of our previous bond programs (Measure V - 2000, Measure A - 2014).

Why can’t the District meet its facilities needs with its current budget?

Today, the improvements needed in the District far exceed funding sources. The per pupil funding, which the District receives from the state, is intended to be used for the day-to-day business of educating students, not the cost of upgrading, modernizing, and repairing facilities. If the measure does not pass, funds that would otherwise go to classroom instruction will be needed to make critical safety repairs and improvements at the schools.

If you have questions about Measure E, please contact Superintendent/CEO, Jared Austin