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On Monday, the Lynwood Unified School District (LUSD) issued a statement in reference to the passing of Measure K. The latter is a 93 million general obligation bond, whose funds will be used update facilities across Lynwood’s 19 schools, 11 of which were built over 60 years ago.
“This funding from the community will ensure our students have the tools that will help them continue to excel, ” said Alfonso Morales, president of the LUSD Board of Education, in the recent press release. “We are thankful that voters took the time to research Lynwood’s facilities issues and determine that our schools really needed this funding.”
Edward Velazquez, superintendent of the LUSD, was also thankful to the residents who voted in favor of the measure.
“We can’t thank the community enough,” said Velasquez. “Voters had faith in our Board, in our teachers, and in our kids. They know that these critical funds will help us further improve our instructional program.”
The final certified vote on the measure stand at 57.38% in favor and 42.62% against. Over 2% of what the 55% approval that was needed for the measure to be approved by the December 4, 2012 election certification deadline.
Money from the bonds will be used for basic infrastructure, such as electrical wiring, but also to upgrade school laboratories, as well as athletic fields.
The LUSD statement also said that approval of this measure will give Lynwood access to state improvement dollars that are only made available to California school districts, which can match the required funds.
Detractors from the measure expressed concerns over how this measure would raise taxes on the residents of Lynwood. However, school officials in favor are hoping that those against will come to see that this measure is all about the future.
“No one likes additional taxes,” said Paul Gothold, Deputy Superintendent of the LUSD, in a phone interview with Patch. “But at the of end of the day, this is not about me or the district, it is about the kids.”
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