Potential Facilities Bond 2024
Arcadia Community and Budget Issues Survey Results
The Arcadia Unified School District, via FM3 Research, recently conducted a follow-up survey to gather community input on budget issues and potential funding measures. The results highlighted a strong community commitment to maintaining and enhancing the quality and safety of local schools. With nearly 70% of participants expressing favorable opinions about the district, it is evident that the community values the high standards upheld by Arcadia schools.
A significant portion of the survey focused on the critical need for additional funding to support various upgrades and safety improvements. Half of the voters acknowledged this need, reflecting a slight increase from earlier this year. This funding is essential to continue providing safe, secure, and modern learning environments for our students.
The proposed Arcadia Unified School District Safety and Repair Measure aims to address several key areas. These include updating aging classrooms and labs, improving security and fire safety systems, repairing roofs and plumbing, ensuring clean air and water, and removing hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint. The funding for these projects will come from a bond measure, which, if approved, will authorize $358 million in bonds. This measure will levy $60 per $100,000 of assessed property valuation, raising approximately $23 million annually. Strict fiscal safeguards will be in place, including public disclosure of all spending, citizen oversight, and annual independent financial and performance audits, ensuring transparency and accountability.
School safety remains the district's top priority, with plans to enhance emergency communication systems, and upgrade lighting, door locks, cameras, and alarms. These measures are crucial to protecting students, teachers, and staff from potential threats and ensuring a secure learning environment.
The survey also underscored the importance of preparing students for future success by upgrading STEM facilities and integrating modern technology into classrooms. This investment will help students remain competitive as they pursue higher education and careers.
In California, school districts must pass bond measures to secure the necessary funding for such projects. The Arcadia community's support is vital to maintaining the high standards of education and safety that residents expect. For the past two years, Arcadia Unified School has been ranked in the top 1% of school districts in the country, and last year was named the best school district in Los Angeles County. By supporting this measure, voters can ensure that Arcadia schools continue to provide excellent education and a safe environment for all students.
Arcadia Unified School District
Protecting Quality Education and Student Safety
Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) serves 9,000 students at 11 award-winning schools. Thanks to our hardworking students, teachers, and staff, AUSD is ranked in the top 1% of school districts in the country.
Upgrading Aging Local Schools
While the quality of education in our schools is outstanding, most of our classrooms and school facilities were built decades ago and need upgrades to support current educational and safety standards.
In 2006, Arcadia voters generously approved Measure I, a school improvement bond measure that has provided locally controlled funding dedicated to the first phase of upgrades to local school facilities, including:
- Several of AUSD’s oldest buildings have been replaced with new facilities
- Modern classrooms, science labs, arts, and music education spaces have been added at most schools
- Libraries have been updated at all schools
- Construction of the Arcadia Performing Arts Center
(Left: New Building at Holly Ave Built in 2024 Thanks to Measure I) (Right: Arcadia Performing Arts Center Built in 2013 Thanks to Measure I)
Planning for Future Upgrades
While much has been accomplished since Measure I was passed nearly twenty years ago, many upgrades are still needed. Important areas to improve include security, fire and earthquake safety, educational technology support, accessibility for students with disabilities, and updates to classrooms and science labs to support the highest-quality academic instruction possible.
Locally Controlled Funding for School Improvements
To ensure all Arcadia students attend school in safe and modern classrooms, the Board of Education is considering placing a school facilities improvement bond measure on the November 2024 ballot. While no decisions have been made, a measure could
provide locally controlled funding to:
- Keep schools clean, safe and provide safe places for children to play
- Remove asbestos, lead pipes and lead paint to provide safe drinking water and air quality Improve fire safety by replacing aging gas lines, updating aging electrical systems and improving smoke alarms, detectors and sprinklers
- Improve school security with emergency door locks, panic buttons, security cameras and communications systems
- Ensure all schools meet modern earthquake safety standards and are accessible for students with disabilities
- Update classrooms and labs to support quality instruction in math, science, technology, engineering, reading and writing programs
- Replace aging and failing sewer lines, restrooms and kitchens
Continued Fiscal Accountability
Any school facilities improvement bond measure would require strict fiscal accountability protections, including:
- Required public disclosure of all spending
- An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and annual audits to ensure funds are spent as promised
- All funds must be locally controlled to support AUSD schools only
- No funds could be taken by the State
Share Your Priorities 
As AUSD plans for the future of our local schools we value input from the community. Please complete our survey to share your priorities for local schools. The survey can be taken online by clicking the links below.
English Survey: tinyurl.com/Survey-AUSD
Chinese Survey: tinyurl.com/Survey-AUSD-CH