The latest from the YES campaign

The measure would make essential upgrades to schools throughout the Central Coast

SANTA CRUZ, CA - Central Coast leaders from Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Ventura counties are rallying behind Proposition 2, the statewide school bond initiative that will help schools across the state make critical improvements.

Throughout Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, there are just over $100M in outstanding modernization projects waiting to be funded. Projects requesting funding for new construction are roughly $91M.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel endorsed Prop 2 saying that, “Consider, though, that research shows modernized school facilities correlate with better test scores, higher attendance, and lower suspension rates; that there has been no new bond money going to school facilities since 2016; and there’s a massive need for modernization of old buildings and construction of new educational facilities across the state.”

Just south of Santa Cruz, more than half of the school districts in Monterey County are asking voters to decide on local school bonds, citing needs across the region for essential upgrades for decades old buildings that pose a hazard to students.

The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh said in a recent interview with Monterey County Now that, “We are now training kids for 21st-century challenges with facilities that were built in the 1900s.”

Earlier this year, the San Luis Coastal Unified School District finished projects that were funded as part of their local 2014 bond, but the region still has $35M in outstanding modernization or new construction projects in the pipeline.

“Schools throughout the Central Coast are in need of upgrades to help keep students safe and healthy,” said Senator John Laird (D- Santa Cruz). “Prop 2 is essential to ensuring that we can continue making important fixes throughout our public school campuses and give students the chance to learn in environments where they can thrive.”

Finally, in the southern tip of the Central Coast, the Democratic Club of Ventura has taken a position to support Prop 2.

Central Coast organizations join more than 200 school districts, social justice organizations, educators and community colleges in support of Prop 2.

Prop 2 provides funding for:

• Safe drinking water for students

• The removal asbestos, mold and lead paint

• The repair of deteriorating sewer, gas and electrical lines

• The rebuilding of schools immediately that were destroyed by wildfires, floods or other natural disasters

• Protecting students from extreme heat at schools

• Upgraded science, technology, engineering and math classrooms and labs for the 21st century learning and job training

• Expansion of technical and vocational schools that provide affordable options for students and veterans to gain the skills needed for good paying jobs in a competitive global economy

Specifically, Prop 2 will Fund:

• $4 billion for the upgrade and repair of local public schools

• 3.3 billion for new construction of public-school facilities

• $600 million for public charter school facilities

• $600 million for career technical education classrooms and job training centers

• $1.5 billion for local community colleges

For more information, please visit https://www.yesprop2ca.com/

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