Keyes Union Elementary School District Bond Measure “U” November 2024
Keyes Union Elementary School District is committed to providing the highest quality education in the region in safe and modern learning environments for students and teachers. Keyes USD is a relatively small community serving about 1100 students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade as the traditional district, and Keyes USD also has Keyes To Learning Charter School serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Aging Schools In Need of Improvements
Our local schools, like Keyes Elementary, are well over 100 years old, and most other facilities were updated and built 60 to 85 years ago and need basic repairs and upgrades to protect student safety and support quality education. Aging classrooms have leaky roofs, faulty electrical systems, and deteriorating plumbing and restrooms. Student safety and campus security improvements are needed, including upgrading gymnasiums, classrooms, HVAC, boys' and girls' locker room updates, smoke alarms, fire safety systems, safety lighting, and fencing.
Local Funding to Repair & Upgrade Keyes EUSD Schools
Since the State does not provide adequate funding for school facility improvements, California school districts must rely on local voter-approved bond measures to upgrade aging schools. To ensure Keyes USD schools are safe and meet modern learning standards, the Keyes USD Governing Board has voted to place $8.5 million school improvement bond measure on the November 2024 ballot. If approved by local voters, the measure would cost property taxpayers in the District approximately $29 annually per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value while bonds are outstanding. This equates to $2.42 per month per $100,000. This measure would provide locally controlled funding that can only be used to repair and upgrade Keyes USD schools, including:
- Repairing or replacing deteriorating roofs, playgrounds, plumbing, gas lines, sewer lines, and electrical systems
- Upgrading older facilities like the gymnasium/cafeteria, a single building serving multiple capacities, and our locker rooms to stay current with health codes and improve access for students with disabilities.
- Improving student safety and campus security systems, including security fencing and cameras, emergency communications systems, audio and visual equipment for student performances and smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinklers
- Providing classroom upgrades to support high-quality instruction in math, science, engineering, arts, and technology for the 21st century
- Replacing aging and outdated portables with permanent classrooms at all sites, including the Charter School
Fiscal Accountability and Local Control Required
A local school facilities improvement bond measure would require strict fiscal accountability protections, including:
- All funds would be controlled locally to repair and upgrade Keyes USD schools only and could not be taken away by the State
- An independent citizens’ oversight committee, mandatory annual audits, and public disclosure of all spending would ensure all funds are spent as voters intended
- A project list outlining the specific use of funds would be required
- No bond funds could be used for staff and administrators’ salaries
- Passage of this measure would help Keyes USD qualify for state matching funds that could otherwise go to improve schools in other communities