Frequently Ask​ed Questions About Measure E​​​

How are Jurupa Unified School District schools doing?

Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) schools provide a high-quality education to all students by providing classrooms, labs and school facilities where they can learn without limits. We believe every child has the potential for success and we are committed to providing a wide range of educational opportunities to ensure our students are prepared for college and careers.

What challenges are facing our schools?

While some schools have modern classrooms, labs and career training facilities, most do not, and are in need of essential repairs and upgrades. We need to ensure that students in older schools have the same learning opportunities as those in newer schools, including in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

We also need to improve our music, arts and athletic facilities because students participating in these activities are more likely to stay on track and are less likely to get involved in drugs, gangs and crime. Updating these facilities would support a well-rounded education for local students.

What safety and security needs do our schools have?

JUSD has prioritized improving school safety and security at all of our campuses, however our schools still require significant upgrades. Equipping a school with all the necessary components of a modern safety and security system costs nearly $1 million per school site, an amount that far exceeds the District's day-to-day operating budget.

We currently do not have the resources available to provide all of our schools with the full scope of a modern safety and security system. The majority of schools still require upgrades to centralized lockdown systems, security fencing, security cameras, emergency communications systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers.

How is the District planning to address these issues?

In order to provide safe and updated learning environments to all students, the JUSD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to place Measure E, a $192 million local school improvement bond measure on the March 3, 2020 ballot. Measure E would help JUSD provide modern classrooms, labs and facilities to all local students.

Specifically, how would funds from Measure E be used?

If approved by 55% of voters, Measure E would provide local funding to:

  • Improve student safety and campus security systems
  • Repair or replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, sewer lines, electrical systems and wood beams with extensive termite damage where needed
  • Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint, as needed, from older schools
  • Provide the classrooms, facilities, equipment and technology needed to support high-quality instruction in science, technology, engineering and math
  • Keep computer systems and instructional technology up-to-date
  • Provide modern labs and career training facilities at each high school so all students are prepared for college and in-demand careers in fields like health sciences, engineering, technology and skilled trades

 

How do I know funds from Measure E would be used responsibly?

Measure E would require fiscal accountability provisions, including:

  • All money would stay local to support JUSD schools and could not be taken away by the State
  • A project program list, Citizens' Oversight Committee and independent audits would be required
  • No money from Measure E could be used for administrators' salaries or benefits

Could funds from Measure E be taken by the State?

No. All funds from Measure E would stay local to repair and upgrade Jurupa schools.  

How would Measure E help prepare students for college and careers?

Measure E would provide local funding to upgrade classrooms, labs and technology to support the science, technology, engineering and math instruction students need to be prepared for college and careers. Modernizing career training facilities would also help ensure those who do not plan to go to college receive the career training they need to compete for good jobs.

How much would Measure E cost?

Measure E would cost property owners approximately 4¢ per $100 of assessed (not market) value per year, or approximately $98 per year for the typical homeowner. All funds generated by Measure E would stay local to improve Jurupa schools.

Is there any other way to update our schools?

The District has very few options when it comes to making the necessary renovations and upgrades our local schools need. The State has been an unreliable partner in funding and provides very limited funding for facilities improvements, so we can't rely on them to complete the repairs and upgrades our schools need.

Measure E would provide local funds to complete prioritized projects to provide a safe and updated learning environment for our students. In addition, if approved, Measure E would help our schools qualify for millions in state matching funds — funds that would otherwise go to other communities.

Has our community supported local funding for school improvements before?

Yes. In 2014, 60% of JUSD voters approved Measure EE, a local bond measure to address the most urgent facilities needs facing JUSD schools. Measure EE successfully completed dozens of repair and modernization projects and touched every school site in JUSD. The District was able to maximize taxpayer dollars by leveraging state matching funds to provide additional funding for school improvements.  

Measure EE was only estimated to address the most pressing facilities needs identified in the Facilities Master Plan, and an estimated $387 million of facilities needs remain across the District. Measure E would enable the District to address the next phase of needs and ensure all Jurupa students have equal access to modern classrooms, labs and school facilities.

A Citizens' Oversight Committee oversees Measure EE expenditures and provides annual reports to the Board of Trustees. Their reports can be found at jurupausd.org/our-district/planning/Pages/COC.aspx.

What about Proposition 13, the state school bond, that is on the March 2020 ballot? Could that measure be used to upgrade JUSD schools?

Proposition 13, a statewide bond measure for school districts and community colleges, has qualified for the March 2020 ballot. If it were to pass, it would provide matching funds for local school bond measures like Measure E. The passage of a bond measure for JUSD schools increases our chances of qualifying for matching funds from the state bond measure. These matching funds would allow Jurupa Unified School District to complete additional facilities improvements at no additional cost to taxpayers.

Would I be able to vote on Measure E?

All registered voters living in Jurupa Unified School District would be eligible to vote on Measure E.

What level of support would Measure E need to pass?

Measure E would need to be supported by 55% of those who vote on it in order for it to pass.

How can I register to vote or learn more about voting?

You can register to vote at www.registertovote.ca.gov. To find out more about voting in this election, please contact the Riverside County Registrar of Voters at (951) 486-7200 or www.voteinfo.net.

How can I learn more about Measure E?

Please contact Robin Griffin at robin_griffin@jusd.k12.ca.us or (951) 361-6571 with any questions or feedback. You can learn more about the potential measure at jurupausd.org/MeasureE.  ​​​


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