A thorough assessment of each local OUESD school, with the oldest dating back 85 years, identified critical repairs and upgrades needed to support quality education and ensure student safety. The assessment identified basic repairs and upgrades that are needed to core school infrastructure, including roofs, plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical systems. Improvements were also shown to be needed to ensure student safety and to relieve student overcrowding. Studies show that overcrowded schools are more likely to have low student test scores, and increased student behavioral problems and violence.

The OUESD Board of Trustees is considering placing a pair of local school improvement bond measures on the June 2026 statewide ballot to provide locally controlled funding for the most critical and urgent repairs and upgrades. The Oakley Union Elementary School District Classroom Repair/Upgrade Measure would address classroom and school facility repairs and upgrades to support quality education. The Oakley Union Elementary School District Student Safety/Security Measure would focus on improving school safety and security for our students.

Together, two potential bond measures, which comprise the OUESD 2026 Classroom Repair and Student Safety Improvement Program (“Program”) would provide $123 million in locally controlled school funding that could only be used for school repairs, upgrades and student safety improvements.

If approved by local voters, each measure would be limited to a property tax rate of no more than $30 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value annually and annual tax revenues would be used to pay off the bonds.

Specifically, this Program would:

• Fix deteriorating plumbing, roofs, heating, ventilation, and electrical systems

• Remove lead, asbestos and other hazardous materials from district schools

• Upgrade district schools to current earthquake and building safety codes

• Repair and upgrade aging classrooms and labs to support student achievement in math, science, technology, reading, writing, arts and music, and help meet current educational standards

• Improve student safety by upgrading fire safety and school security systems, including alarms, smoke detectors, classroom locks, emergency communications, and cameras

If passed, these bond measures would also help OUESD qualify for millions in State matching funds that would otherwise go to other school districts.

Each of these bond measures will require strict fiscal accountability and transparency protections, including:

• Every penny would benefit OUESD elementary and middle schools, be controlled locally, and could not be taken away by the State or Federal government

• No bond funds could be used for administrators’ salaries or benefits

• Independent citizens oversight, annual audits, and annual public reports of all bond fund spending to help ensure bond funds are used as authorized by District voters