Measure CC Support
I am writing in support of Measure CC. I am the mother of two children in Culver City schools, Linwood E. Howe Elementary and Culver City Middle School. A quality education is one of the building blocks of not just a good society, but a great one. CCUSD has done a brilliant job of weathering the budget storms of the past decade; they have prioritized teacher salaries and quality programs over facilities upgrades. Now, however, there are upgrades needed to our facilities that are becoming dire. Culver City is a gem of a city inside the heart of Los Angeles. It has a strong civic commitment that is unique–a community I’m proud to be part of. I urge voters to continue this great legacy of valuing quality public education by voting yes on Measure CC!
Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble, Presbyterian pastor and mother of two
Culver City, California
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United Parents of Culver City urges you to vote Yes on Measure CC on June 3
United Parents of Culver City, the all-volunteer parent group dedicated to promoting the interests of students in the Culver City Unified School District, strongly urges you to vote YES on Measure CC, the school bond on our June 3rd ballot.
Culver City schools have received statewide and national recognition for the caliber of the education they provide. That’s not only a positive for each and every student – it’s beneficial for each and every homeowner because of its marked effect on property values.
Tight budgets have made it impossible for our district to maintain and upgrade our campuses. That’s unsurprising considering the fact that per student funding for K-12 education in California ranks well below the national average.
Measure CC is the right way to address those needs.
Measure CC is put before the voters as the result of an exhaustive 18-month-long process. It offers our community the opportunity to make our district first-rate in every respect in a fiscally prudent way.
Among other things, Measure CC will:
1) Address basic health and safety needs such as: repairing and replacing plumbing and electrical systems; repairing and/or installing air conditioning systems; removing hazardous materials.
2) Improve the condition and physical integrity of our schools: repairing roofs, ceilings and walkways; renovating the Robert Frost Auditorium; providing outdoor shade and shelter structures where they’re needed.
3) Create modern learning environments: upgrade antiquated science labs; upgrade wiring and networking infrastructure to allow the use of modern technology.
4) Save money: install energy-efficient lighting, heating systems and windows to reduce energy costs.
Bond funding is the most common way to finance extensive improvement programs like the one outlined in the District’s Facilities Master Plan. Like a home mortgage, bonds provide funding up front, which is paid back over time. The projects which Measure CC will fund are long-term investments selected so that their useful lives matches the term of the bonds that will fund them.
All Measure CC funds will be spent to improve Culver City schools; they cannot be taken away by the state. The way they are spent will be determined by our elected school board in an open and public process. Funds can only be spent on the projects outlined in the ballot measure itself. A Citizens Oversight Committee will be established to ensure a high level of accountability.
Property owners – commercial and residential alike – will be assessed approximately $48 per $100,000 of the value at which their property is taxed. Because property values have gone up over the years, long-term owners like seniors citizens will pay a smaller assessment than recent buyers – many of whom moved here because of our excellent schools. We believe this is fair.
Assessed value is different from market value. If you’re not sure what your home’s assessed value is you can look it up quickly and easily using the County Assessor’s Property Assessment Information System.
Nearly five years ago voters approved Measure EE, a parcel tax which helping stabilize funding for teachers during the depths of the “Great Recession.” State funding for education has improved since then. Measure EE is set to expire next year, so every tax bill will be reduced by $96. Now is the right time to make this next investment in the future of our students and our city.
Measure CC has earned the support of our community’s leading citizens, as well as organizations including the Culver City City Council, the Culver City Education Foundation, the Culver City Chamber of Commerce, the Culver City Federation of Teachers, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, all CCUSD PTA’s and, of course, United Parents of Culver City.
We urge you to support this critical investment in our schools. By doing so you help ensure our district remains Culver City’s crown jewel, a status which benefits every citizen and property owner alike.
For more information on Measure CC visit: CulverCityKids.org.
For information on United Parents of Culver City visit:
UnitedParentsCulverCity.com.
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Support for Measure CC
The Board of Trustees of the Culver City Education Foundation strongly supports Measure CC. This bond measure for school facilities will have a great impact on CCUSD students, the school district and community. Our purpose is to “support and enhance quality educational programs for every student.” Passage of Measure CC will provide $106 million for making necessary repairs and upgrades to CCUSD school facilities, which will improve the educational environment. Endorsing Measure CC is consistent with our work to seek financial support from the community for students and the entire Culver City Unified School District. For this reason the trustees voted unanimously to Support Measure CC. Please join us by voting for the Culver City school facilities bond, Measure CC on the June 3 ballot.
Board of Trustees, Culver City Education Foundation
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Dear Editor,
As a homeowner in Culver City for the last 14 years I understand the importance of voting YES and passing Measure CC. Measure CC is an absolute requirement to maintain the superior reputation of our school district, improve the safety of the facilities, and upgrade the classrooms to allow them to take advantage of modern teaching technologies.
Many homeowners make their buying decisions based on the quality of the local school district. The value of any home is directly related to the number of families that want to buy that home. In my case, Measure CC will cost my family around $250 a year or 70 cents a day. On the other hand, the value of my home has increased an average of $40,000/year over the last 14 years. I will gladly invest $250/year for the potential to make a return that is anywhere close to $40,000/year, anytime, any day, anywhere.
If you are on the fence about voting in favor of Measure CC, please consider looking at it as a long-term financial investment in both education and our Culver City community. Our kids and our community will be rewarded many times over.
Please join me in voting YES on Measure CC on June 3rd.
Terry Robins