GGUSD Board of Education Approves November Bond Measure to Improve School Safety and Learning Environments

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

On August 9, 2016, the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) Board of Education approved a resolution that will ask voters to consider a $311 million general obligation bond measure on the November 8, 2016 ballot.

If approved, the measure would fund upgrades to the district’s heating and cooling infrastructure and building electrical systems, air conditioning, seismic safety repairs, roof replacements, and updates to classrooms, science labs, and computer systems to support 21st century instruction. Also included would be renovations to athletic facilities which were built in 1958 and 1959 and have never been upgraded.

This is the second bond measure in GGUSD history; the voters overwhelmingly approved Measure A in 2010 to undertake the first phase of repairs and upgrades to schools, many of which were built 40 to 95 years ago. While Measure A is delivering on its promises, more than half of GGUSD classrooms do not have air conditioning.

“This district has a longstanding reputation of academic success and fiscal responsibility,” said Dr. George West, Board of Education president. “We will continue to make wise decisions that reflect the values of our community and provide our nearly 46,000 students with access to a high quality education.”

The November bond measure would require approval from 55 percent of voters to pass. Every penny would benefit GGUSD schools and by law, no money could be used for administrator salaries. An independent citizens’ bond oversight committee along with annual audits would ensure funds are spent as promised.

In GGUSD, the annual tax is estimated $34 per $100,000 of assessed property value or about $8 per month for the typical homeowner.

The district conducted a comprehensive needs analysis and issued a communitywide survey in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. At its July study session, the Board reviewed the survey results which indicated that 79 percent of survey participants agreed that installing air conditioning in classrooms is a high priority.

The Board of Education’s resolution calling for the election is available online at www.ggusd.us and by contacting the Business Office at (714) 663-6446.