On November 4, 2008, voters in the Tracy Joint Unified School District passed Measure S, a $43.1 million school bond with 69.6% of voters in favor of the bond. Bond funds will be used to address the most critical renovation and modernization needs at the District’s oldest elementary and middle schools. Measure S funds are also needed in order to acquire additional State matching funds. Finally, Measure S funds will be used to upgrade technology and provide security systems to enhance student safety in all of the schools where the district serves students from Kindergarten through high school.
Measure S funds will be used to:
- Renovate, modernize and reconstruct the District’s older elementary and middle schools;
- Provide students access to modern classrooms facilities;
- Replace old and obsolete heating, cooling and ventilation systems with modern, energy efficient systems;
- Upgrade and improve electrical systems increasing the ability of students and teachers to use classroom computers and technology;
- Replace aging plumbing, water and sewer lines and upgrade restrooms;
- Address deteriorated roofs;
- Repair leaking water and sewer lines.
Measure S will also raise the funds needed to:
- Upgrade technology uniformly;
- Meet district requirements to provide charter school facilities;
- Provide security systems to insure school safety.
The elementary and middle schools in Tracy are old. The average age of the district’s oldest elementary and middle schools is 55 years with one built more than 70 years ago. Measure S funds will be used to renovate, modernize and reconstruct these schools to provide all students with comparable classrooms. Funds will also be used for technology upgrades and the purchase and installation of modern security and surveillance systems.
Measure S provides for strict accountability as bond funds are spent. The School Board adopted a very specific resolution when calling for the election. All of the construction projects are listed in the resolution, and must be independently audited each year. In addition, an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee will monitor and review all bond expenditures. This volunteer committee of local residents and taxpayers will make sure that all bond funds are spent as planned for the benefit of local students.
All of the funds will be spent in the School Facilities Improvement District (SFID) created for this bond election. The SFID contains the part of the school district serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. None of these bond funds will be spent in neighboring elementary districts.
None of the money would be used for school administrator or teacher salaries. All of the money generated by Measure S will pay for school improvements and upgrades as outlined in the District’s Project List. The average yearly cost to property owners in the SFID would be $15 per $100,000 of assessed valuation (not market value).
Construction costs cannot be paid for by lottery funds. State law (Government Code Section 8880.5) forbids the use of lottery funds for school construction.
Oversight Committee
Tracy Unified Citizen’s Oversight Committee Members for Measure S
Kelly Lewis
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 832-3433
- Former TUSD Board Member. Vice President of Chubb Insurance. Community volunteer active in Relay for Life, Little League and Parks and Recreation.
Christina Frankel
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 835-5583
- Architect with Derivi Construction and Architecture. Member of SJCOG MK Committee. Member of American Institute of Architects. Previous Board Member of AIA Sierra Valley. Children currently attend district schools.
Don Yerian
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 835-5096
- Retired Owner/Manager of Yerian’s Tire Service. BS in Marketing from California State University, Fresno. 1988 Tracy Citizen of the Year. Member of Tracy Kiwanis Club and SIRS-46, Stockton. Currently has grandchildren in TUSD and four of his children are graduates of Tracy High.
Roxane Bernhard
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 839-1259
- PTA President at Poet-Christian School for two years and served as a parent classroom volunteer for six years. Also involved with Tracy Babe Ruth. Two children attend Poet-Christian School.
Teri Cunningham
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 833-1381
- Accountant. Treasurer for the MPTC at McKinley Elementary School. Served on the District Facilities Committee.
Dan Green
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 835-8880
- Small business owner since 1994. Three children attend Art Freiler.
Alternates (One-year renewable by Board of Trustees: Does not have term limits)
Cheryl Fowler
- Contact Phone Number: (209) 835-2235
- Member of numerous committees with the Tracy Chamber of Commerce, TUSD, City of Tracy, Tracy Women's Forum Association, Sutter Tracy Healthy Connections' Family Success Team, Relay for Life, Lathrop Chamber of Commerce, GSEAC, SJHRA, Friends of the Central Valley Regional Events Center, Girl Scouts Troop #1267, Tracy Cougars Youth Football and Cheer, Surtec Adopt-A-Family and Art Freiler School Science Olympiad.
The Measure S Citizens' Oversight Committee meets the first Monday of each Month.
Meetings are held in the District Education Center Board Room located at 1875 W. Lowell Ave.