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Student Services/Learning Resources Center, Canyon Country campus
Bond Oversight
Home > Administration > Committees > Citizens Bond Oversight Committee > Measure E Ballot Text
Student Services/Learning Resources Center, Canyon Country campus
Bond Oversight

Home > Administration > Committees > Citizens Bond Oversight Committee > Measure E Ballot Text

Measure E Ballot Text

FULL TEXT BALLOT PROPOSITION OF THE SANTA CLARITA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOND MEASURE ELECTION, JUNE 7, 2016

“To upgrade College of the Canyons’ classrooms, labs/technology to prepare students for four-year college/jobs in science, aerospace, teaching, nursing/manufacturing, accommodate growing student enrollment, expand veterans’ services/public safety training, upgrade accessibility, enhance parking, improve earthquake safety/qualify for State matching funds, and construct, acquire, repair classrooms, sites, facilities/equipment, shall Santa Clarita Community College District issue $230,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, with independent citizen oversight, mandatory audits, no funds for administrators’ salaries and all funds staying local?”

Bonds – Yes / Bonds – No

PROJECTS

To provide a quality education for its students, the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Community College District, responded to the needs of its community, and evaluated College of the Canyon’s urgent and critical facility needs, and its capacity to provide students and military veterans with support facilities, an affordable education and prepare them for success in college and careers. 21st Century job training, safety, enrollment, class size and class offerings, and information and computer technology infrastructure were each considered, in developing the scope of projects to be funded. In developing the scope of projects, the faculty, staff, students and community have prioritized local job training, particularly in aerospace, technology, health care, biotechnology and other high demand careers, as well as facilities available to support an affordable education and allow high school students to get a jump start on college courses, so that the most critical needs that will make College of the Canyons an effective place for learning and college transfer, would be addressed. Based on Board, faculty, student and community input, it was concluded that if these facility needs were not addressed now, the College of the Canyons would be unable to remain competitive in preparing students for jobs in high demand industries and university transfer. In approving the Projects, the Board of Trustees determines that College of the Canyons MUST:

  • Provide upgraded classrooms and technology to deliver essential JOB TRAINING and workforce preparation for students of all ages, VETERANS, and local residents; and
  • Provide an AFFORDABLE, high quality education that prepares students for four year colleges and to be competitive in today’s ever-changing job market at a reasonable price; and
  • Qualify for State matching funds which might otherwise be lost to other colleges; and
  • Ensure that every penny from this measure benefits College of the Canyons, and that no funds can be taken by the State.

The following types of projects are authorized to be undertaken at College of the Canyons:

PROVIDING JOB TRAINING AND COLLEGE TRANSFER:

Academic Facility and Technology Upgrade Projects To Help Students and Veterans Transfer to Four-Year Universities or be Trained For 21st Century Jobs

Goals and Purposes: College of the Canyons serves thousands of military veterans and their families, many of whom have recently returned from war zones and face challenges including post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent disability. Upgraded and expanded veteran services and job training are needed so returning Service Members receive the support they need to complete their education and enter the civilian workforce.

College of the Canyons provides essential job training and workforce preparation for students, veterans, and local residents. Because of the changing economy, classrooms, labs and facilities need to be upgraded to provide students with up-to-date technology and expand access to training programs that help them learn new skills and find better paying jobs in jobs in law enforcement, fire safety, emergency medical care, technology and other high demand careers.

College of the Canyons has partnered with the William S. Hart High School District to enable more than 900 high school students to get a jump start on their college education each semester; this partnership has helped 80% of local high school students to attend college. By upgrading our outdated classrooms and improving technology, College of the Canyons can continue to offer this partnership.

Thus the District requires funds that are locally controlled to obtain State matching funds if available and improve academic facilities which will allow them to continue providing access to affordable, high quality education to local students and veterans, including:

  • Construct new buildings that add classrooms and science labs at the Canyon Country and Valencia campuses that expand student access, help students transfer to four-year universities, and prepare them for well-paying jobs.
  • Add a parking structure at the Valencia Campus to provide adequate parking for students and faculty.
  • Construct and/or upgrade career and vocational classrooms to better prepare students and workers for well-paying jobs.
  • Construct and/or upgrade facilities for student support services, such as tutoring and career counseling.
  • Construct and/or upgrade classrooms and labs for science, technology, engineering, and math- related fields.
  • Expand facilities to enhance training of law enforcement officers, fire fighting personnel, emergency medical technicians, nurses and other allied health professionals, and other career education program facilities.
  • Construct and/or upgrade facilities that expand capacity to provide training, ensuring local businesses and industries have access to a well-trained workforce with skills needed now and in the future.
  • Upgrade classroom technology.
  • Reconstruct or upgrade the students’ and veterans’ centers to provide them with support programs and educational resources.

PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE EDUCATION FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VETERANS:

Basic Repair Projects Needed To Make College of the Canyons a Safe Place for Learning

Goals and Purposes: The cost to attend California's public universities has risen to at least five times that of attending a community college. As a result, more local students and their families rely on College of the Canyons to save tens of thousands of dollars. Additional funds are needed to increase opportunities for local students to earn college credits, certifications, and job skills at a reasonable price to be competitive in today’s ever-changing job market.

Many of College of the Canyons’ buildings, classrooms, science labs, and job training equipment are outdated. This measure will address urgent and basic repairs and ensure that all buildings meet current earthquake, health and safety standards.

  • Update electrical wiring.
  • Repair gas, electrical, water and sewer lines.
  • Improve heating, cooling and energy conservation systems.
  • Update campus facilities to improve handicapped accessibility.
  • Repair to the aging plumbing system to prevent flooding and water damage.
  • Improve roadways and parking capacity.

* * *

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

This bond measure has strict accountability requirements including:

  1. All money will benefit College of the Canyons campuses and CANNOT BE TAKEN BY THE STATE.
  2. NO MONEY can be used for ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES or pensions.
  3. Require CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT and yearly reports to the community to keep the College accountable for how the funds are spent.
  4. NO ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher, faculty and college administrator salaries, pensions and other operating expenses.
  5. FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE EXPENDITURE OF BOND MONEY ON THESE PROJECTS IS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS. BY LAW, PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDITS WILL BE PERFORMED ANNUALLY, AND ALL BOND EXPENDITURES WILL BE MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE SPENT AS PROMISED AND SPECIFIED. THE CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MUST INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATION OF A BONA FIDE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND A SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATION. NO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OR VENDORS ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THE CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

* * *

The listed projects will be completed as needed. Each project is assumed to include its share of furniture, equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, program/project management, staff training expenses and a customary contingency. In addition to the listed projects stated above, authorized projects also include the acquisition of a variety of instructional, maintenance and operational equipment, including interim funding incurred to advance fund projects from payment of the costs of preparation of all facility planning, fiscal reporting, facility studies, assessment reviews, facility master plan preparation and updates, environmental studies (including environmental investigation, remediation and monitoring), design and construction documentation, and temporary housing of dislocated college activities caused by construction projects. In addition to the projects listed above, repair, renovation and construction projects may include, but not be limited to, some or all of the following: renovation of student and staff restrooms; replace aging electrical and plumbing systems; repair and replacement of heating and ventilation systems; acquire vehicles; upgrade of facilities for energy efficiencies; repair and replacement of worn-out and leaky roofs, windows, walls doors and drinking fountains; secure hillside stability, improve roads and infrastructure; replace or remove outdated buildings and classrooms and construction of new classrooms, science labs and support buildings; installation of wiring and electrical systems to safely accommodate computers, technology and other electrical devices and needs; upgrade facilities to meet current environmental sustainability and State compliance standards; repair and replacement of fire alarms, emergency communications and security systems; upgrading, resurfacing, replacing or relocating of hard courts, fields, turf and irrigation systems; upgrade classrooms; build or upgrade facilities for public safety training, math, physical sciences, fine arts and theatre arts; construct, expand or reconfigure facilities to create large lecture classrooms; upgrade, resurfacing and reconditioning existing parking lots and construct parking garages; repair, upgrade and install interior and exterior lighting systems; replace water lines and valves, sewer lines and other plumbing systems; construct, upgrade, acquire or expand multi-use classrooms and labs, culinary and student services, food services and health services buildings, fine arts and visual and performing arts facilities, learning resources center, physical education/aquatic facilities, locker rooms, administrative offices, warehouses and maintenance buildings, student service/campus center and instructional buildings, trades and technology building, library, athletic fields, student services buildings; improve water conservation and energy efficiency; replace or upgrade outdated security and safety systems; replace existing window systems with energy- efficient systems to reduce costs; improve insulation, weatherproofing and roofs to reduce costs; improve access for the disabled; install and repair fire safety equipment, including alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, emergency lighting, and fire safety doors; replace broken concrete walks, deteriorated asphalt; replace/upgrade existing signage, bells and clocks; demolition of unsafe facilities; install new security systems, such as security (surveillance) cameras, burglar alarms, handrails, outdoor lighting, fencing, gates and classroom door locks; replace sewer lines and improve drainage systems to prevent flooding; upgrade roadway and pedestrian paths for improved safety and access for emergency vehicles, site parking, utilities and grounds. The project list also includes the refinancing of outstanding lease obligations. The upgrading of technology infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, the funding of state-of-the-art projectors, portable interface devices, servers, switches, routers, modules, sound projection systems, information systems, printers, digital white boards, upgrade voice-over-IP, communication systems, audio/visual and telecommunications systems, call manager and network security/firewall, Internet connectivity, wireless systems, technology infrastructure, and other miscellaneous IT and instructional equipment, DATA storage, fiber/copper infrastructure, phones, identity access cards.

The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the final costs of each project. Some projects may be undertaken as joint use projects in cooperation with other local public or non-profit agencies. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District’s control. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans and construction documents are finalized, construction bids are received, construction contracts are awarded and projects are completed. Based on the final costs of each project, certain of the projects described above may be delayed or may not be completed. Demolition of existing facilities and reconstruction of facilities scheduled for repair and upgrade may occur, if the Board determines that such an approach would be more cost-effective in creating more enhanced and operationally efficient campuses. Necessary site preparation/restoration may occur in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, utility lines, trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property. Proceeds of the bonds may be used to pay or reimburse the District for the cost of District staff when performing work on or necessary and incidental to bond projects. Bond proceeds shall only be expended for the specific purposes identified herein. The District shall create an account into which proceeds of the bonds shall be deposited and comply with the reporting requirements of Government Code § 53410.

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