CHINO – The Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted Thursday evening to place a local education bond measure on the November 8^th 2016 ballot for voters’ consideration.

“We are incredibly proud of our award-winning local schools and great teachers- we consistently outperform county and State averages on test scores,” said Chino Valley Unified School District Superintendent Wayne M. Joseph. “But if we want to maintain that excellence and retain our quality teachers, we must invest in our aging schools.”

If approved by voters, this education bond would be used to upgrade and repair safety issues and expand career-ready, technology, and after-school spaces at schools in the Chino Valley Unified School District.

Many local schools are old, with some built in the 1950s. Basic repair and upgrade needs at local schools include:

·        Replacing older plumbing systems and rusty corroded water pipes to continue to provide clean drinking water

·        Removing asbestos and lead paint

·        Repairing restrooms and leaky roofs

·        Updating fire safety systems

Providing repaired and safe spaces for before- and after-school tutoring, computer, math and science labs, the arts and physical education is also a strong priority for the District. Bond funds would be used to repair and expand programs ensuring students’ social, emotional and academic needs are met and families get the support they need for students to succeed.

Nestled in the region known as the Four Corners – on the boundaries of Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties and located within San Bernardino County – the Chino Unified District serves the communities of Chino, Chino Hills, and parts of south Ontario with over 29,000 students in 35 schools, 19 of which are California Distinguished Schools.

“The District is committed to providing a quality education to prepare students for college and providing job training for students who plan to enter the workforce right after high school,” continued Superintendent Joseph. “If approved by voters, this measure will also help to upgrade and repair classrooms and equipment for quality job training opportunities in fields like healthcare, computer science, and automotive repair; allowing students who do not go to college to acquire real-world skills and compete for good jobs when they graduate.”

The proposed measure requires strict fiscal accountability including annual independent financial audits and an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to monitor funds. No funds could be used on administrator salaries or pensions. All funds must be used in Chino Valley Unified School District.

The District came to a decision to place an education measure on the ballot for voter consideration after over a year of outreach to the community on parent and resident priorities, including over 150 school site meetings attended by over 2,000 parents, educators and community members, as well as an additional community outreach process with over 3,000 residents providing feedback.

According to a recent public opinion survey, as much as 72% of district voters would be interested in supporting such a measure, far above the 55% threshold required for passage.

If you have questions, please contact Julie Gobin at (909) 628-1201 or julie_gobin@chino.k12.ca.us. For more information, please visit www.chino.k12.ca.us