Thank you San Juan Community!

November 11, 2012

Now that the electoral dust has settled, thanks to the entire San Juan Community for the passage of Measure N. Because of the enormous effort of community leaders, teachers, parents, administrators, Republicans and Democrats, Business and Labor, and a broad coalition of people who believe in San Juan and the future of public education, we passed Measure N. This is a historic moment in time for the San Juan School District and we look forward to the future.

Thanks again to all who helped make this a reality.

Larry Miles

Chair, San Juan Schools First-Yes on Measure N

City of Citrus Heights Endorses Measure N

(Oct. 25) – The City of Citrus Heights has passed a resolution endorsing Measure N, citing the City’s interest in supporting strong public schools and the joint partnership both the City and the San Juan School District enjoy in working together.

“We are honored to have the support of the City of Citrus Heights,” said Rick Launey, President of the San Juan Board of Education. “We appreciate the support of the City in improving our schools and their recognition of the critical importance of Measure N to the future of our San Juan community.”

The text of the City’s Resolution follows.

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A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CITRUS HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND – MEASURE N

WHEREAS, San Juan Unified Schools are more than 50 years old, and are in need of upgrades; and

WHEREAS, to improve the quality of education at every San Juan school by modernizing aging classrooms, upgrading technology, and providing 21st century learning opportunities; and

WHEREAS, improving students safety and learning enviroments; and, becoming eligible for millions in additional State and federal matching funds; and

WHEREAS, San Juan Unified School District proposes to issue $350 million in bonds; and, appointing a citizen’s oversight committee to conduct annual independent audits, and spend funds only on school and classroom improvements; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED

that the City of Citrus Heights does hereby support the San Juan Unified School District Bond Proposition – Measure N.

Bee Endorses Yes on Measure N

Sac Metro Chamber President and Teacher of Year Call for Measure N

: Please click on picture to hear call from Roger Niello

(Oct. 20) Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce President Roger Niello and 2012 Sacramento County Teacher of the Year Nicole Naditz have urged San Juan voters to vote Yes on Measure N.

“Yes on N Will Increase Property Values”

“Yes on N will increase property values by funding improvements to every school in the San Juan Unified School District,” Niello said. “Quality schools are critical to a strong community. Yes on N modernizes classrooms and prevents any money from going to administrator salaries or pensions.”

Teacher of Year Touts “Much Needed

Improvements at Every School”

: Please click on picture to
hear call from Nicole Naditz.

Veteran Bella Vista French teacher Naditz urged voters to join teachers in supporting Measure N.

“I support Measure N because it will fund much needed improvements at every schools including replacing leaky old portables with permanent schools and modernizing science and technology labs,” she told voters.

In short, Yes on N is good for kids and good for taxpayers.

San Juan CSEA Chapter Backs Measure N

San Juan Employee Groups

Support Key Bond Campaign

(Oct. 18) San Juan’s CSEA, Chapter 127, has endorsed Measure N, joining all other San Juan employee organizations in backing the critical bond campaign.

“Our classified employees - the folks who take care of our schools, feed our kids, and maintain our facilities – are incredibly dedicated to having the best school district possible for our students,” said Measure N Chair Larry Miles. “We are asking our employees to educate and inspire our students, and both our students and staff deserve modern classrooms so they can do their job.”

Teachers, Administrators, Bus Drivers Weigh In

CSEA joined the San Juan Teachers Association, the Teamsters (bus drivers), the San Juan Professional Educators Coalition (SJPEC), the San Juan Administrators Association, and other employees, along with a unanimous Board of Education, in calling for passage of Measure N.

High School Students Help Lead the Measure N Charge

(Oct. 13) – With less than 21 days remaining till election day, El Camino and Rio Americano high school students helped lead the Measure N campaign on Saturday in a major literature drop in Gold River. Joined by San Juan Board Member Greg Paulo and El Camino music teacher Kevin Glaser, over 40 students, many of whom also play in the Eagle band, dropped over 2,000 pieces of literature urging local voters to support San Juan’s critical bond campaign.

“The students were wonderful,” said Paulo. “They did a great job in supporting Measure N and making a positive outcome more likely.”

Students From Throughout District Supporting Measure N

Students from throughout the district, including many students from St. Francis High School, have campaigned for the initiative. Students at El Camino helped moderate a Candidates Forum last week in which Measure N was discussed, and similar student involved events with Rio Americano’s Civitas program and San Juan High School students are planned later this month.

Many students are required as part of high school government classes to participate in a campaign of their choosing to gain first-hand experience in participatory democracy. Students from Sacramento State University have also helped the campaign.

“I’m thrilled that our students are giving back to their community and have chosen Measure N as their campaign to support,” said Committee Chairman Larry Miles. “They are working today to help the students of tomorrow, and that demonstrates character and vision.”

Support Mounts For Measure N As Sac Metro Chamber Endorses

: Please contact the Campaign to get your lawn sign!

(Oct. 6) – With absentee voters receiving their ballot in a few days, Measure N continued to receive strong support throughout the San Juan Community last week. The Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce announced their endorsement of Measure N, joining many other business and labor groups, including the Citrus Heights Chamber which endorsed last week.

Get Your Yard Sign Up!

The continued support is critical, said Measure N Chairman Larry Miles, but only part of the work that needs to be done in these final weeks. “We really need to get those yard signs up, contact our friends and neighbors, and work hard these next 31 days,” Measure N Chair Larry Miles urged. “Now is the time to make sure that every voter in the San Juan community understands the importance of Measure N to our schools and kids.”

The Campaign had representatives at the San Juan Alumni Association picnic on Saturday. San Juan Alumni President Dick Cowan signed the Ballot Argument in favor of Measure N, and San Juan High School will celebrate its Centenniel next year.

Campaign representatives have been speaking throughout the community, including events last week at El Camino High School, Deterding Elementary School, and several other events, including a major fundraising event hosted by San Juan Board President Rick Launey.

Miles urged Measure N supporters to contact Campaign Manager Alyson Willey at Alyson.Willey@yesonmeasuren.org to volunteer for the campaign. “We need as much help as possible to finish strong,” Miles said.

Business and Labor Agree – “Yes on Measure N!”

The broad based support enjoyed by Measure N continues as a cadre of leading business and labor groups have endorsed the $350 million San Juan school bond. The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC, the Sacramento Central Labor Council, and the Teamsters Local 150 are the most recent additions to the long roster of community supporters.

Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC

“We are supporting Measure N because of its benefit to the Citrus Heights community by improving our schools and employing our local businesses increasing the economic development of our area,” said Citrus Height Chamber President and CEO Bettie Crosby. “Measure N is key to ensure every student in every school has a clean, safe and successful learning environment to prepare them for their future success.”

The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce works to bring together business, education, government and the community and is committed to promoting economic prosperity.

“The Citrus Heights Chamber has been a great supporter of public education and our San Juan schools,” said Board of Education President Rick Launey. “We are thrilled that they are taking a leadership role in ensuring the quality of our schools for the next decade by supporting Measure N.”

Labor Support

Adding to the support for Measure N, the Sacramento Central Labor Council and the Teamsters Local 150 urged passage for San Juan’s bond campaign.

“We are excited to receive the support of the working men and women of Sacramento County,” said Measure N Committee Chair Larry Miles. “We share an interest in providing career technical education in areas including the building trades and in creating jobs in the Sacramento region.”

: Teamsters Local 150, the union representing San Juan’s bus drivers, has endorsed Measure N.

Miles expressed particular appreciation for the endorsement of Teamsters Local 150.

“The Teamsters represent our San Juan bus drivers, and we see everyday their commitment to our school District and the safety of our children,” Miles said. “We thank our bus drivers for their support of Measure N and their dedication to the district.”

Measure N is a local school bond initiative for the San Juan Unified District to support technology in schools, provide students with modern classrooms and replace deteriorating portables with permanent learning spaces. The $350 million measure will allow San Juan schools to be eligible for millions in state and federal matching funds making the community’s investment go even further in providing children with the education they deserve.

A Citizens Oversight Committee composed entirely of community residents will ensure Measure N proceeds are invested wisely. Measure N prohibits the use of funds for administrators’ salaries, pensions, or operating expenses to guarantee that all money will go directly to benefit every child and school.

Measure N Campaign Reaching Out With Absentee Vote Starting Soon

The Yes on Measure N Campaign finished out a strong week of campaigning with campaign tents at both the Carmichael Founders Day and Citrus Heights Fun Day Community Events, meeting hundreds of San Juan voters. Led by Campaign Manager Alyson Willey, who recruited Ray and Shirley Willey, the Measure N team continued to spread the word about the importance of Measure N to the San Juan community.

Earlier in the week San Juan Superintendent Glynn Thompson spoke to the Carmichael Kiwanis and explained Measure N, with Assistant Superintendent Kent Kern and Campaign Chairman Larry Miles also appearing before the Citrus Heights Kiwanis.

Less Than Three Weeks Before Absentees Start Voting

With the campaign in full gear last week and absentee voters getting ready to mail in their ballots in less than three weeks, the Campaign had volunteers calling voters most every day, and publicly responded to confusion surrounding recent articles in the Sacramento Bee regarding capital appreciation bonds. (See Yes on Measure N Chairman Larry Miles’ Letter to the Editor explaining that San Juan’s Measure N bonds will not be capital appreciation bonds.)

Miles argued that Measure N is critical to fund the next ten years of facility improvements essential to San Juan’s future. “Without it we won’t have any ability to make the kinds of improvement and facility improvements we need,” Miles argued. “In order to continue to have decent schools we have to make an investment”.

Supporters are urged to contact Measure N Campaign Manager Alyson Willey to volunteer for Measure N, take a sign, or make a contribution.

Measure N Is Not a Capital Appreciation Bond

Yes on Measure N bonds will not be capital appreciation bonds of the type that were discussed in a recent Sacramento Bee article, said Yes on Measure N Chair Larry Miles last week. The Bee article discussed local school district capital appreciation bonds that deferred any payments for 20 years, followed by 20 years of principle and interest, with limited repayment options for the districts.

Miles made his comments in a Letter to the Editor:

Measure N is a conservative bond, not risky

Re “Borrow now, pay way later” (Page A1, Sept. 16) and “Schools make bad bets on risky bonds” (Editorial, Page A10): The San Juan Schools First – Yes on Measure N Committee is supporting a general obligation bond measure critical to the San Juan Unified school district’s future.

Under Measure N, San Juan will not issue Capital Appreciation Bonds, the subject of the article and editorial. Our general obligation bonds, which are conservative, plain vanilla financial instruments, are not like CAB bonds, some of which have no payment for 20 years, followed by payments for the next 20 years, and restrictions on early repayment.

Taxpayer protections and a Citizens Oversight Committee are part of Measure N which justifiably has received tremendous broad-based community and bipartisan support, recognizing both the District’s great need and financial stewardship.

Every child deserves a quality education in a clean and safe classroom. Measure N will help kids, create jobs, and preserve our community.

Please vote Yes on Measure N!