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Facility Bond - Measure LL

COMMUNITY FORUMS

Virtual Presentation - September 21, 2021
In-person Presentation - October 21, 2021 & October 27, 2021
MeasureLL Community Presentation
Community Update Zoom Recording: September 21, 2021

Click HERE for
COMMUNITY FORUMS - QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Measure LL Bond Survey

Click HERE to take the English survey
Click HERE to take the Spanish survey

The Survey window closes on November 30, 2021

The Vista High School New Classrooms Project 


The Vista High School Sports Complex Project is complete and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to officially accept the new Sports Complex.

The Rancho Buena Vista Softball Field Project is complete and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to officially accept the new Softball Field. 
pic ribbon cutting

The Vista Magnet Middle School pool remodel project is complete. 
pic Blueprint

The Rancho Buena High School gym expansion project is complete. 
pic gym

The Casita restroom and sewer replacement project is complete. 
Blueprint

Facilities Bond Project List

The facilities bond project list is intended to outline the entire scope of the $247 million project. There are many projects spread over fifteen years. It is important to note that the list is subject to revision based on direction from the school board  of trustees. 

VUSD Measure LL Bond

Facilities Bond Purpose

 The facilities bond project is exciting for us all because we know that in order to realize our vision to become the model of educational excellence and innovation, we need our facilities to be high quality, healthy, safe, and stimulating places to learn and grow for all students. Please follow progress as we work together to transform our learning environments into 21st century learning spaces that promote excellence and innovation.

  • Repair or replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, sewer lines, and electrical systems
  • Replace wood and support beams that have extensive termite damage or rot
  • Provide the classrooms, labs and technology to support high quality instruction in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math
  • Upgrade classrooms, libraries, and science labs to keep pace with learning technology
  • Provide classrooms, labs, and equipment for career and technology education so students are prepared for college and in-demand jobs in health sciences, engineering, technology, and skilled trades

Measure LL Overall Summary

The Measure LL facilities bond overall project is large. The goal of the bond is to invest $247,000,000 of the taxpayer’s money in improving classrooms and facilities throughout Vista Unified. The approval of Measure LL authorized the District to issue and sell $247,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The best estimate of the average annual tax rate is $33.15 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. That means, approximately $108 annually will be added to the property tax bill for the typical homeowner. The final fiscal year in which it is anticipated that the tax will be collected is 2057-58. This facility bond does qualify for approximately $18,000,000 in State Matching Funds. If Vista is able to receive the state matching funds, the overall project would be $265,000,000. Additionally, there are other funding resources like routine restricted maintenance and new construction developer fees that will be added to the projects to increase the construction impact. As a result of all of these funding sources braided together, Vista Unified anticipates investing more than $293,000,000 in school facility improvements over the next fifteen years (2019-2035). 

Facilities Bond Improvement Categories
The bond work is organized into categories to address facilities that require upgrading. 

Category A - Projects to create 21st century learning environments to support science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum and career/technical education training opportunities

Category B - Projects to modernize technology infrastructure

Category C - Projects to improvement student and campus safety and security

Category D - Projects to modernize and upgrade utility infrastructure, improve building functions and systems, and install energy efficient systems

Category E - Projects to complete basic facility upgrades and to meet current academic and safety standards

Category F - Projects to remove portable buildings from school campuses

Project Phases

Due to the large scope of work, the bond process is intended to be completed over the course of approximately fifteen years. To better track the individual bond construction projects, they have been organized into a timeline by phases. Each phase lasts approximately three years and includes many projects. It is important to note that the projects in these phases may be adjusted by the superintendent and school board. Click HERE to view a detailed list of the individual school projects on the construction timeline.  

Facilities Bond Construction Timeline

Phase 1 - 2019-2021

Phase 2 - 2022-2024

Phase 3 - 2025-2027

Phase 4 - 2028-2030

Phase 5 - 2031-2035

Project Labor Agreement (PLA)

A project labor agreement (PLA) can be used by school districts and other public organizations like community colleges and cities to engage the local labor unions in the construction process. The purpose of the PLA for Vista Unified is to negotiate a contract with the San Diego Building Trade Council that allows for goals focused on local hiring, ensures jobs are completed on time, and creates career opportunities for our local residents. The decision to move the bond process under a PLA was made in September 2019, one year after Measure LL was approved. All but four of the Phase 1 and 2 construction projects have already been approved and assigned a construction manager. As a result, these projects will not be subject to a PLA.  Project Labor Agreements generally last for three to four years. With this time frame in mind, there are only four projects between phase 1 and 2 that will be considered to be included in a PLA for the next three years: The landscaping and shade improvements at Rancho Minerva Middle School, pedestrian access pathway to Lake Elementary and Madison Middle schools construction project, VIDA sewer improvement project, and Vista Magnet Middle School front entrance project. The school board nominated two board members to serve in the negotiations for the PLA contract: Cipriano Vargas and Martha Alvarado. The board anticipates having the PLA contract agreement in place by February 2020.
The PLA was approved by the Board on July 23, 2020

Approved Project Labor Agreement

Archive for PLA Public Notice and Advisory Committee Meetings

Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC)

A requirement of every school improvement bond is to have an accountability component. Vista Unified has created a Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) for the purpose of informing the public concerning the expenditure and uses of bond revenues. The Committee’s legal charge is to actively review and report on the expenditure of taxpayers’ money for school construction. Click HERE to view the details of the CBOC oversight role. The CBOC is composed of representatives selected from the community. The CBOC meets quarterly to review the progress of the bond projects.

CBOC Members

  • John Aguilera, Business Organization member/Parent or Guardian
  • Charles Basso, Parent or Guardian
  • Michael Hunsaker, San Diego Tax Payer Association Member
  • Michael Large, Parent or Guardian
  • Linda Latimer, Parent/Guardian, PTA Member
  • Penny Harrington, Parent or Guardian
  • Gina Fierro, Parent or Guardian
  • Bill Faust, Senior Citizens' Member
To contact the CBOC, please email:
cbocchair@vistausd.org

CBOC Meeting Agendas and Minutes

2021-2022

  • August 17, 2021
  • November 9, 2021
    • Agenda
    • Minutes
  • February 15, 2022
    • Agenda
    • Minutes
  • May 17, 2022
    • Agenda
    • Minutes

 2020-2021

2019-2020

2018-2019


Facilities Bond Management Team

Vista Unified has put together a great Facilities Bond Team to ensure that all aspects of the projects are carefully managed, implemented, inspected for quality, and completed within the timeline identified. The construction process is complex, involving multiple contractors, architects, construction plans, contracts, safety measures, inspectors, and unforeseen delays. Our team is composed of highly trained leaders who have decades of experience working on bond construction projects. If you have questions about the bond process, please call the VUSD District's Measure LL Bond Program at: 760-940-9588. 

K. Grace Chan (PPC) - Bond Program Manager

Ed Ross (PPC) - Senior Bond Construction Manager

Alex Preciado (PPC) - Bond Project/Construction Manager

Ami Shackelford - Assistant Superintendent, Business Services

John Wathen - Executive Director of Facilities & Operations

Kevin Lesko - Purchasing Manager

Karen Riedel - Bond Accountant

Barbara Goya - Contract Specialist

contact us

Vista Unified School District
Measure LL Bond Program

John Wathen,
Executive Director
johnwathen@vistausd.org

VUSD Construction Hot Line
(760) 940-9588