NUSD Seeking Applicants For Bond Oversight Committee

The is actively seeking community members to serve on its Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.

Applications for the committee that will oversee the management of a $63 million school bond approved by voters in November will be accepted through January 17.

The Newark Unified School Board of Education voted on Tuesday the process of which community members can apply to sit on the committee.

As approved by the five-member board, the committee’s responsibilities are to:

• Inform the public about Newark Unified’s spending of Measure G bond proceeds
• Review expenditure reports outlined by Newark Unified to make sure that the funds are spent only for Measure G purposes
• Present annual written reports about the activities and conclusions of Measure G expenditures to the Newark Unified Board of Education during a public meeting

The board is aiming to appoint at lease seven members to sit on the bond oversight committee.

Individuals interested in applying can obtain an application through the district’s website or at the , 5715 Musick Ave. Completed applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Jan. 17.

In addition to the district office, applications can be picked up at the following locations:

• Newark Senior Center
• Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center
• Newark Library

Appointments to the committee will be approved by the district’s Board of Education after interviews are conducted.

Those interviews are scheduled to begin by Jan. 19, and approval of the nominees is scheduled for the board’s regular meeting on Jan. 31.

Applicants who are appointed in late January will serve a full two-year term. Afterwards, committee members will serve one-year terms.

To apply, the person must be a resident of Newark and the committee must be made up of the following representatives:

• Business representative
• Senior citizen group representative
• Taxpayer organization member
• Parent or guardian of child enrolled in district
• Parent or guardian of child enrolled in district an active in a parent-teacher organization
• At-large community member

Measure G was approved by 56 percent of voters in November.

Funds generated through Measure G are allocated toward updating classrooms, libraries and science labs and refurbishing schools to meet earthquake and fire safety standards.

The school bond means property owners will pay $39 per $100,000 of assessed value annually, beginning in 2013 and ending in 2046. That calculation is based on an assumption of annual growth in assessed value of 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent.

Consultants have said the 4.5 percent represents an annual growth in assessed value that includes a proposed addition of 1,200 homes to be built in the city’s development area off Stevenson Boulevard, which was approved by the City Council last year.

School board members said if the homes are not built they would assess whether to have property owners pay more per $100,000 assessed value annually or keep the annual contribution at $39 per $100,000 assessed value for a total less than $63 million.

For more information, visit the district website at http://www.nusd.ca.schoolloop.com.