There is a lot of talk about the Los Alamitos Unified School District Bond Measure – Measure G – that is on our November ballot.
In a nutshell, the LAUSD is asking us to authorize up to $97 million in school bonds to modernized and update schools in the district, primarily the Los Alamitos High School campus. Based on the bond write up and resolution information provided by the District, the measure will increase property taxes for properties in the district by $34 per $100,000 of assessed value.
We are looking for your thoughts and opinions on Measure G – Both pro and con – so here is your chance to tell us how you feel.
If we have the space, we will publish the best written submissions in the Fall issue of the RHA Signature News Magazine that will be in homes in mid-October and or here on our site.
Let us know your thoughts on School Bond Measure G here – Deadline Friday October 5th
15 Responses
In the 50 years of Los Alamitos High many improvement had been made at the school.
I would like to see what is beeing proposed for improvement as well as it’s cost before I vote yes on it.
No. We pay high enough taxes on our homes
No, I am against it. We have almost a new bond at every election for school. Each bond adds more taxes for the home owners. We need to figure out how to do this without borrowing money to pay for this.
I live in Rossmoor and although I have no children attending the Los Alamitos schools, I realize the importance of all children getting an excellent education. I just got my tax bill and noticed that I am already paying about $200 in school bond taxes. With prop G I figure those would increase to about $340. I don’t think that is to much to pay to ensure that the children in the district get a good education. However, it seems to me that many students are inter-district transfer students. Shouldn’t their families also pay the tax? Can someone enlighten me as to how many transfer students there are in our district? Maybe it is not that many.
Hi Larry.
It’s a fair question. Ask the Superintendent at the RHA October 16 meeting. We will start at 7:00 p.m.
While it will not affect transfer students, Cypress and Seal Beach residents that don’t need a “transfer” will pay. I’m NO anyway.
Hi MacKay –
A minor clarification to your statement.
All properties in Seal Beach with the exception of Leisure World are included in this bond measure. Residents of Seal Beach have been a part of the Los Alamitos Unified School District since the district’s unification in 1980.
Measure G – Yes – Strong Schools, Strong Community!
Los Alamitos High School was built in the 1960’s. Some classrooms have only one or two electrical outlets. Additionally, there are 31 dilapidated portables (that the district could not even sell for $1.00). We need more classroom lab space for science and Career & Technical Education courses. Most of all we need much stronger safety and security structures – such as alert systems, cameras and fences.
I am 100% for this bond also in part because the citizen’s oversight committee insured that the last bond (Measure K) was on time and under budget – it made some big improvements to the five elementary schools, two middle schools and about $33M went to the high school. The district also go $24M in matching funds from the state. Ten years ago (when Measure K was passed), the high school campus was in pretty good shape compared to the other school sites. Now it is time to update the high school from a half century ago.
If you care about your property value and keeping quality schools for our community’s children, VOTE YES ON MEASURE G. 100% of this bond money will stay local to improve the facilities in our schools – not go to Sacramento.
It is rather common for school buildings to need major repairs after 50 years of service. Two recent examples of campuses that began floating bonds for such repairs and upgrades are Golden West College and Vypreds College. After visiting inside some of the buildings in our district I can understand the need.
Correction: Cypress College
Of total student attendance in LASD, what are the percentages of students who are : (1) from in district (residents) and (2) from out-of-district transfers.
Great question John – Come to the October 16th RHA Meeting at Rossmoor Park and ask Superintendent Kropp yourself. Plan to arrive a bit early as we expect a full house.
On the surface, I am NOT in favor of Measure G. This the second Measure in 10 years for funding of our local schools. From all that I have read, there has been no accountability of expenses from the last Measure; just general statements of ‘improvements’ or upgrades that were done.
Having just received the OC General Election Sample Ballot, there is little description of the Measure or details as to accountability. This concerns me greatly. And where did the $97 million dollar figure come from? Instead, would a $50 million Measure also be viable?
However, If the true assessed cost is only $34/$100,000 of value, and the costs are fully accounted for, this is a small price to pay for enhanced education for our youth, and I would vote in favor of the Measure.
I will continue to monitor proposed actions of accountability on this measure before making a final decision. As a taxpayer I want to know exactly what I would be paying for and who will be responsible for monitoring all expenditures.
Measure G is another total shake down by the school district and teachers for yet more money so the schools won’t be closed. Basically a job security measure, nothing more!
Here are the issues I have with Measure G and why everybody should vote no on Measure G.
1. You can’t trust LAUSD at all now with bond measures. They lied to us on the last bond measure and they will be messing with our property taxes now forever! Does ANYBODY even remember what a total waste of money Measure K was??? Millions and millions of dollars to trench cable ditches when the school district should have just used affordable WIFI and wireless systems!
Read –
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/10/01/whos-watching-over-the-billions-of-dollars-in-voter-approved-school-bond-money/
https://www.ocregister.com/2013/08/16/los-alamitos-schools-boost-taxes-to-repay-construction-loans/
2. LAUSD does NOT listen to local residents at all and are bad neighbors! They now charge to use the fields that were always open to the public in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. They are now hostile to dog walkers and have removed all trash cans at all field exits. They also do not maintain and trim their landscaping and trees in their parking lots and parkways.
3. They totally lie to us about where their attendance is coming from. Currently most of the kids that attend Rossmoor schools are coming from Long Beach and other cities! Hundreds of cars come into Rossmoor everyday and drive residents insane with double parking, speeding, and running stop signs. Either bring these students in by electric bus or stop importing kids from other cities.
4. LAUSD likes spending your money but they can’t manage it. For example, Measure K cost Rossmoor residents millions in worthless additions to the schools. I emailed the school district many times when Measure K was passed suggesting they put solar panels up on the acres of flat school roofs and sell back the unused electricity to the power company. I got ZERO reply. Instead, the school district wasted money on overpriced huge and ugly air conditioning units that cost a ton of money to run.
5. Racism issues. This school district has shown us again and again just how racist they are. If the administration and teachers can’t keep their racist views to themselves, than shut this whole district down!!!!
6. Attendance is yet another issue. This school district is not run like a public school district anymore, but a charter school district. They hand pick the kids coming in from other cities. If they are going to be run like private charter schools, than WHY are we paying for it?
I am a Rossmoor Resident and the Volunteer Co-Chair of the “Yes on G” Campaign. I am obviously for this bond and here is why. We have 3 children, 2 graduated LAHS and our youngest is a Junior. All 3 of our children were out of district transfers from Long Beach due to living in Eldorado Park Estates. The schools in our district were welcoming and challenged our kids intellectually, they all immediately felt part of a community. We moved to Rossmoor 4 years ago over other areas because of our incredible public schools, with the most engaged teachers and administration that rival some of the top private schools in our area. We saw first hand how our children benefited from all the improvements ‘K” provided our district. Although our youngest will be off to college when most of the projects funded by “G” will be completed, I am all in on helping this bond pass.
I was asked over 2 years ago to be part of a community group for feedback on the projects the district had in mind and what we felt the priorities should be. Last year i was part of a community steering committee, evaluating the projects and if the bond should move forward to the School Board and then to the voters. Dr. Kropp held several public meetings last year explaining the need for the bond and where the money was going to be spent. This has been a very transparent process with a tremendous amount of opportunity for residents to participate. These are the reasons I volunteered to Co-Chair the “Yes on G” campaign.
There are accountability provisions that the law requires. It includes a project list that will detail exactly how the money will be used, a citizens’ Oversight Committee and independent audits to ensure the money is spent properly. Also, by law NO money from this bond can be used for employee salaries or benefits.
Please look at the list of endorsers for G. It is made up of Conservatives, Liberals, Business Owners, Civic Leaders and everything in-between. Why does a tear-down in Rossmoor cost just under $1 million? Because of our incredible award winning public schools.