Measure EE, the $144 million local bond passed in 2014, has allowed the district to complete modernizations and upgrades throughout the district, but there are still several Jurupa schools that are over 50 years old and in need of modernization. An additional bond, such as Measure V on the November ballot, would be needed to complete additional projects.
Local bond measure passages are the only way the district has access to sufficient funding to improve school facilities said Robin Griffin, Jurupa Unified Director of Planning and Development.
Both the Troth Street and Jurupa Middle School construction projects include security upgrades that feature increased standard perimeter fencing heights, installation of exterior cameras, new secure single points of entry, and rapid emergency response systems to enhance law enforcement contact. Similar enhancements will be included in future projects.
“Our goal is ultimately, when facility funding becomes available to continue to increase the number of exterior cameras at our sites, increase the amount of perimeter fencing… to make it more safe and secure,” Ms. Griffin said. “Any time that we can make our school campuses more accessible in a safer manner, we are trying to implement those design changes.”
The three-year $33 million campus-wide renovation project at Troth Street Elementary will provide students and staff with an all-new multipurpose room, library/makerspace, front office, several brand-new classroom buildings, modernizations of existing classrooms, and outdoor learning spaces.
Troth Street Elementary will serve its students better as a community school with its new learning village, which will house support staff for student services, including behavioral and mental health support, and a designated space for community health clinic visits.
Jurupa Middle’s $34 million modernizations are in their final construction phase, with completion expected in the Summer of 2025. The school has a new front office and classroom building while 33 existing permanent classrooms are still in the process of being modernized. Other improvements include new paint, flooring, windows, lighting, roofs, technology, and landscaping.
The multipurpose room and music classroom are not included in this construction project but are included in a long-range plan to be completed once additional facility funding becomes available.
These modernization projects have been paid for by Measure EE and state matching funds. State matching funds are only made available because of the local funding provided by local bond measures, such as Measure EE.
The Measure EE bond and state-matching funds obtained a decade ago have been responsibly spent to pay for the renovations at Troth St. and Jurupa Middle, several other campus modernizations, new elementary playgrounds, and the state-of-the-art Elliot N. Duchon Concert Hall.
Local bonds have strict accountability measures preventing the district from spending the funds on non-construction-related activities such as administrative salaries or pensions. The district is strictly audited, has a Citizens' Oversight Committee, and provides reports to the local community, district staff, and state government on all bond expenditures.
“We have been so prudent, mindful, and responsible with how we are spending those bond dollars that [Measure EE]... actually lasted ten years,” Ms. Griffin said.
"We strictly follow all accountability measures, as evidenced by a decade of clean Measure EE audits," said Paula Ford, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services.
Students will benefit from these modernization projects because they, “have a much more conducive learning environment that helps student wellness, staff wellbeing and just more access to modern technology,” Ms. Griffin said. “In the end, it ends up being a more happy environment and a more healthy environment for both our students and staff.”
“We always appreciate the community support because it benefits not only the students that attend the school district,” she said. “It’s a two-way benefit. The school district benefits for its students but the community benefits as a whole.”
You can learn more about JUSD facility projects at
https://bit.ly/Building4Futures.
