PVPUSD School Bond (Measure SOS) Survey Results
PVP Watch urges our readers to research the subject matter carefully and vote according to their preferences.
Motivation for the survey on Measure SOS.
PVP Watch has received comments from readers with diverse opinions on the PVPUSD School Bond (Measure SOS) on this November’s ballot. We decided to survey the peninsula's voters to gauge their preference. The survey was open for 5 weeks. During that time 262 people participated. Based on survey statistics, the results are at the 95% confidence level with +/- 6% margin of error. In addition to survey responses, we received 600 write-in comments.
Based on the demographic responses, the geographic and age distributions of respondents in the four cities (Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estate, and Rolling Hills) were consistent with the population on the peninsula.
PVP Watch’s observations.
Our survey shows that nearly two-thirds of voters will vote against the bond. Measure SOS will likely fail to pass.
This survey was conducted in September before bond supporters promoted the bond. The YES side may have gained some momentum since. Given that 55% YES votes are required to pass the measure, it is unlikely for the gap to close. The survey percentages of voters against vs. supporting Measure SOS are similar to those for Measure PV, a $400 million (plus $400 million in interest) facility bond defeated in 2020 by a 63% to 37% margin.
Key survey findings.
31% will likely vote YES, 62% of respondents will likely vote NO, and 7% are undecided
73% of respondents agreed that school facilities need at least some repairs.
68% agreed that at least some items on the school bond lists are necessary.
Despite agreeing with the necessity of facilities improvements, respondents’ key reasons for voting NO were:
School District lacks experience in managing $300 million to $400 million projects – 64%
Insufficient project details – 61%
Measure SOS is very similar to the failed Measure PV – 57%
School District lacks transparency – 57%
School District has wrong spending priorities – 50%
Voters appeared to have made their decisions already and were not swayed by the issues brought up in the survey.
As stated in our previous newsletter on the bond, independent of the cost figures, the key reason for a NO vote was that voters do not trust the School District. This must be resolved for future bonds to be successful.
Potential solution – issue smaller bonds to demonstrate management abilities and restore trust – 54% will support this approach. Additional recommendations were provided in our previous newsletter.
Write-in comments.
We received 600 write-up comments from our survey. Examples (verbatim) are listed below:
Supporting Measure SOS
The schools desperately need capital improvements. There hasn't been a bond in PVPUSD in 25 years.
They're (facilities) old. We need to fix what isn't serviceable. It will be expensive.
I don’t need more information. I’m clear how it works. It’s important that our schools are modernized and they need money to do that.
Peninsula high school is a joke. Dilapidated, underfunded at the expense of PV High, and a travesty given its prior academic prowess.
Schools facility conditions are deplorable, broken electric, leaky sewer etc. Our children are worth this tax increase as they are the future to our community.
PVPUSD students, staff and residents deserve far better than the current conditions
Against Measure SOS
Projects are not ranked as to schedule leaving the actual undertaking with politicians. And $100 million soft costs just invites highjinks with this money!
We're still paying off the last bond which went to District Office buildings. Clearly lacking in oversight and common sense.
Can’t afford the taxes.
Do not trust board. Board should first get rid of unnecessary school programs and return to basics.
This is a mighty large property tax hike. If I saw/was made aware of the progress made on renovation from past bond issues maybe I’d go along.
I have worked for school systems. I am pretty sure very few bond measures are ever needed.
Develop a proven record of trustworthiness.
What’s next?
Apparently, $1.2 billion are needed to repair “everything” in our schools. So Measure SOS is just a start. There will likely be similar bond measures to come. As stated above, for voters to support Measure SOS and subsequent bonds, restoring their trust in the School District is a must.
To gain trust, the School District may consider improving transparency on project details and how funds will be spent. Publish cost, schedule, priorities, and appropriate details on bond projects, previous and current. Explain how the bond numbers were developed. Several comments pointed to the lack of bond details which caused confusion. This was evident when we interviewed one school board candidate who supported the bond. This candidate was not aware that Measure SOS would be issued as a series of 4 smaller bonds!
The District also needs to demonstrate the ability to manage projects, starting with smaller bonds and graduate to bonds of hundreds of millions in scope.
PVP Watch urges our readers to research the subject matter carefully and vote according to their preferences.
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