Dear Editor,
On behalf of the members of the CCUSD Measure E Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), I am writing to update the community on the status of Measure E, the $358 million school construction bond approved by voters in March 2024.
I chair the CBOC and presented its second semi-annual report to the CCUSD Board of Education on March 10, 2026.
Members of the public can access the report on the Measure E CBOC webpage, https://bit.ly/45BLwgN. This page pulls together the CBOC membership roster and minutes, facility updates for each school, financial reports, and the weekly construction management reports.
The 14-member CBOC was appointed by the Board as required by state law to assure the community that the bond funds are being spent according to the uses stated on their ballot. We meet four times a year to receive financial updates and review expenditures for each school site, presented by Santha Rajiv, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services. It is important to understand that while the District’s operating deficit recently required it to give potential layoff notices (“pink slips”) to multiple teachers and staff, the bond funds cannot be used for salaries or other school operating expenses.
Not only is this the law, but you wouldn’t take out a mortgage to buy groceries. The bond funds may be used only for capital improvements like new construction, remodeling, and major equipment. The CBOC cannot direct how bond proceeds are spent or establish spending priorities within the construction program. Its mission is to bring transparency to how the $358 million in bond funds are spent.
The District does not issue all $358 million in bonds at one time because it doesn’t make sense to pay interest on money that isn’t needed yet. The first series of bonds was issued in September 2024 in the amount of $80 million. These Series A bonds pay an interest rate of 3.84% and received credit ratings of Aa2 from Moody’s and AA from Standard & Poor’s. The bonds are deposited in a Building Fund and earn interest until they are spent. As of December 31, 2025, the District had spent $5.3 million, and a total of $19.3 million was paid or contractually obligated.
Some people have wondered why construction hasn’t started yet and such a small amount has been spent, considering that two years have passed since the bonds were approved. All large construction projects, especially when done by a public entity, require a great deal of detailed planning in addition to regulatory approvals and competitive bidding to select contractors. Because all CCUSD campuses will be upgraded simultaneously, the District has engaged multiple architectural firms so that design for all sites can take place at the same time. CCUSD has completed the schematic design and design development phase
for each campus, and construction documents are now being prepared. These are used for bidding, permitting, and building. Once complete, they must be reviewed and approved by the Division of the State Architect. This is the section of the California Department of General Services that is responsible for approving the design and construction of K–12 schools and community colleges to ensure that they comply with all structural, accessibility, and fire and life safety codes. DSA approval may require 6 to 9 months. The plan is to start bidding before DSA approval is received. Construction on some campuses is expected to start in late Fall 2026, while others should begin in Spring 2027. The construction and remodeling plans for each campus can be found here: https://bit.ly/4szR05O
The CBOC also reviewed the financial and performance audit completed by the independent accounting firm CWDL for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. CWDL accountants reviewed the Building Fund financial statements, examined internal controls over financial reporting, tested for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and evaluated accounting policies and financial disclosures. They also examined the project books, selecting and testing a sample of expenditures, and reviewed supporting documentation, including invoices and purchase orders, evidence of approval and receipt of goods and services, and bid documentation.
The audit results were unqualified (i.e. “clean”), and identified no weaknesses in internal controls, no instances of noncompliance, and no questioned costs. CWDL confirmed that the bond proceeds were expended solely on the voter-approved projects and no bond funds were used for salaries, pensions, benefits, or other operating expenses. The auditors concluded that the District complied with the requirements of Proposition 39 and the California Constitution.
At its February 2026 meeting, CBOC re-elected me as chair and Raaj Shankla as Vice Chair. Other members serving in 2026 include Lacey Banis, Nancy Barba, Lydia Dillier, Gary Guthman, Van Johnson, Chris Kirk, Ron Levinson, Darrel Menthe, and Palvi D. Mohammed.
Are you interested in serving on the CBOC? Any District resident who is the parent or guardian of a CCUSD student is encouraged to apply by completing the application on the CCUSD website at /4.files.edl.io/c4cb/11/07/25/234109-30a1c836-1448-4edd-896a-1ca2628c3a3d.pdf. The next CBOC meeting will be held on May 20, 2026. All meetings are open to the public.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne T. Black, PhD, MBA Chair, CCUSD Measure E Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
