Supporters of Measure CC, the bond issue that will help address the significant facility needs throughout all of Culver City Unified School District’s 10 school sites, celebrated the measure’s overwhelming passage by Culver City voters on Tuesday, June 13.
Measure CC garnered 76 percent of the vote. It needed just 55 percent to pass.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our generous and deeply engaged community,” Superintendent Dave LaRose said. “This need, vision and plan was shared, discussed, processed and created by our entire community. Such a strong response clearly reflects high levels of trust and faith from our community.”
Leading up to the placement of the $106 million bond on the ballot, CCUSD conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the condition of all of its school facilities and presented its findings in a Facilities Master Plan.
Co-chair of the Yes on Measure CC campaign and member of the CCUSD Board of Education, Kathy Paspalis, said securing approval of the bond issue was a long process.
“This is something we’ve been working on for a year and a half, and I’m happy to see it come to fruition,” Paspalis said. “Thanks the Culver City community for its support of our students and our schools. We look forward to getting the work done.”
The range of projects that will be funded by proceeds from Measure CC include: repairing or replacing deteriorating school floors, walls, windows, leaky roofs, plumbing systems and rest rooms; bringing schools up to modern standards for fire and earthquake safety, removing asbestos, fungus and other hazardous materials, and install needed fencing, lighting, locks and security to keep students safe; installing or upgrading air conditioning, heating and air filtration to ensure healthy learning environments; upgrading and repairing aging school electrical systems, and replacing science labs and equipment so that our schools can offer modern classroom technology and computer science to students; providing the technological equipment and the modern classrooms necessary to ensure that all of our students are college and career ready; and providing permanent classrooms for our students in the continuation high school.
Measure CC earned support from just about every corner of the community, from parents groups to business groups and from young families to senior citizens. Co-chair and CCUSD Board of Education President Laura Chardiet said many people worked long and hard to educate voters and generate support for the bond issue.
“I’m reminded of the Margaret Mead quote, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ I’d like to thank everyone who worked on the campaign, especially the people who went out of their comfort zones to make phone calls and walk precincts,” Chardiet said. “We are looking forward to all the repairs that will be made as a result of this bond money and the benefits it will provide for our students, staff and teachers.”
“Now, our school district will be able to provide at all sites the appropriate, safe environment that will optimize student learning opportunities,” said Board Member Nancy Goldberg. “Thanks to our Culver City community!”
Board Member Sue Robins echoed those thoughts.
“I am thrilled with the passage of Measure CC,” she said. “The Culver City community has spoken with a resounding ‘Yes!’ that they want our students to be learning in 21st century learning environments. I am so grateful to the campaign committee members who worked tirelessly to ensure the passage of this bond – it was a tremendous undertaking. I look forward to working with the leadership of the District, the other board members, the teachers, the classified staff, parents and the business and residential communities to make our schools high-quality learning centers that prepare all of our students to move on seamlessly and successfully to their chosen path after high school. We must be vigilant and responsible stewards of the bond finances, and I personally commit to carefully considering each project in order to maximize the positive impact of every dollar we spend on our students and community.”
A citizens oversight committee will be established to oversee expenditure of the bond revenues and assure that the District prioritizes its expenditures.
Assistant Superintendent, Business Services Mike Reynolds said he looks forward to working with the community to improve CCUSD facilities in the coming years.
“I believe that the election results demonstrate the high value that the community places in education, as well as a shared recognition of the critical role that it plays in shaping each person’s life and future,” Reynolds said. “The support and passage of Measure CC is a clear validation of the level of the shared commitment to instruction and learning within Culver City.”
The community support expressed at the ballot box Tuesday is just the latest example of how Culver City has rallied behind its schools, LaRose said.
“This support and shared ownership is what makes CCUSD such a special place to live, learn and work,” he added. “Success for All truly Takes US ALL – and the collaborative development of Measure CC and our Master Facility Plan has been proof of our ‘motto’ in action.”