Q. How are our local Perris and Menifee secondary schools doing?
A. Recently released test scores from the California Department of Education show local student test scores have steadily risen over the past five years, and local high school test scores are on par with Riverside County’s highest-ranking high schools.

Q. How do state budget cuts impact our schools?
A. While our students continue to achieve, ongoing state budget reductions result in cuts to academic programs that impact student learning. In response to ongoing state education funding cuts and the urgent need to upgrade local schools to provide all our students with the skills they need to succeed in college and future careers, the PUHSD Board of Trustees voted to place a local school repair and improvement bond measure on the ballot in November 2012.

Q. What types of projects would this measure fund?
A. It is the intention of the Board to ensure that bond proceeds are utilized equitably throughout the District. The District has identified several priorities in each school that build on our district-wide goal of providing safe, clean, efficient, secure and modern school facilities to ensure that all our students have the best learning environment possible. To see more information on specific projects at each school, please refer to the Draft Project Blueprint which can also be downloaded from our website at www.puhsd.org/schoolbond.

Q. Will this bond build a new High School in Menifee?
A. Yes. Current priorities for funding will focus on avoiding overcrowding in all our existing high schools. A building site has already been identified and purchased for a new high school in Menifee, which will be built if the bond passes. Building a new high school in Menifee will also help support future unification. The proposed bond will be structured to evenly distribute debt and funding between the two districts, in the event unification occurs.

Q. How much would the proposed measure cost?
A. The proposed bond measure would generate an estimated $153.42 million to repair and improve local schools and would be limited to no more than $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value, or about $51 a year for the average homeowner. No funds could be taken away by state government.

Q. Isn’t this a problem that the state should solve?
A. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the state to provide adequate funding to meet our goals. Every dollar from a local bond measure would stay local for our schools and could not be taken away by the state or given to other school districts.

Q. How do I know that the money will be spent wisely?
A. All the money raised by this measure will be used here in our local community and cannot be taken by the state. In addition:

• An independent citizens' oversight committee with representation from local business leaders, taxpayer groups and seniors would review all spending.
• No money can be spent on administrators' salaries or benefits.
• Annual independent audits will ensure funds are used efficiently and as promised.