Trustee Susan Henry - President
It has been ten years since the voters approved Measure C, the "Neighborhood School Safety/Repair Measure". In 2004 our high school campuses were in dire need of attention. The general obligation bond program ballot language stated that HBUHSD intended "to repair/upgrade neighborhood schools, classrooms, restrooms, libraries at all Fountain Valley, Westminster, Huntington Beach high schools; install/repair fire alarms/security systems; repair leaking roofs, cracked walls, plumbing, electrical systems; improve seismic safety; stabilize sinking buildings; build new classrooms to replace old portables/reduce overcrowding; and remove asbestos/lead paint". It was a monumental undertaking . Thanks to the patience of students and staff and a construction management firm, all of our sites received the attention they so desperately needed. The result was a new and improved Huntington Beach Union High School District with campuses that are pristine and park-like. But that's not the end of the story...

The Measure C ballot language also included some provisions with "the issuance of $238,000,000 in bonds, at legal interest rates, with independent audits, citizens' oversight, and no money for administrators' salaries". The tax rate on the issues of these general obligation (GO) bonds was $30 per $100,000 of assessed valuation per fiscal year. The actual average has been $27.70. In March of 2013 the district refinanced an issuance of GO bonds resulting in taxpayers' savings of $31,755,000 and is exploring a future potential savings of an estimated $1,355,000 for a total of $33,110,000. Throughout the process the Citizens Oversight Committee reviewed the process, toured facilities and had met regularly until just recently when the last of the funds were spent.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and as co-chair of the Measure C campaign I would like to thank our voters and taxpayers for their continued support of education. The future of the students of the Huntington Beach Union High School District and the surrounding community have benefitted greatly from this investment.