Frequently Asked Questions

What about Prop. 2 on the November ballot? Won’t that address our facility needs?

Prop. 2 is on the ballot statewide to create a pool of funds available to local school districts to repair and upgrade local school facilities. Local school districts like LASD can only access these State matching funds if they have local matching funds from a local bond measure like
Measure EE. Voting Yes on EE will provide the local matching funds LASD needs to compete for our fair share of state matching money that will improve our schools at no additional cost to local taxpayers. Without Measure EE, this state funding will go to improve schools in other communities. Prop 2 does not increase taxes. State bonds are repaid from state taxes we already pay.

When can I vote Yes on Measure EE?

Measure EE will be on the November 5, 2024 ballot. All registered voters in the Los Altos School District will receive a ballot in the mail in early October. You may cast your ballot by mail in this election, place it in a drop box, or vote in-person at a designated vote center. As soon as you receive your ballot, please vote Yes on EE, follow the instructions to sign and date the outer envelope and place it in the mail or deliver your ballot right away.

Who can vote on Measure EE?

All registered voters living within the Los Altos School District boundaries.

How many votes does Measure EE need to pass?

Measure EE must be supported by 55% of those who cast a vote on the measure.

How can I register to vote or learn more about voting?

You can register to vote or check your registration status at www.registertovote.ca.gov. To learn more about voting in this election, please contact the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters at (866) 430-8683 or visit www.sccvote.org

I thought our schools were already top-notch — why do we need Measure EE?

It’s true that Los Altos School District (LASD) schools are consistently ranked in the top 1% of all schools in California. However, despite the strong academic achievement taking place inside of our classrooms, many school facilities are over 25 years old, aging, and in urgent need of improvements. The State does not provide funding for facilities improvements, so local schools cannot provide up-to-date facilities without a local funding source.

What specifically will Measure EE funds be used for?

Funding from Measure EE will help to:

  • Fix leaky roofs and windows and modernize aging heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems

  • Improve accessibility for students with disabilities

  • Enhance science, technology, engineering, and math classrooms and labs

  • Complete the construction of the tenth campus to relieve school traffic and overcrowding

  • Help preserve small neighborhood schools

How much does Measure EE cost?

Measure EE will provide $350 million in locally controlled funding dedicated entirely to local elementary and junior high schools. If approved, Measure EE would cost homeowners $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value. It’s important to note that the cost of Measure EE is based on the assessed value of your home, not its current market value. Assessed value is based on the original purchase price, and is often much lower than current market value, particularly for longtime homeowners.

Can I read more specific plans for Measure EE?

Yes — we encourage you to visit the LASD site where you can read the detailed Facilities Master Plan adopted by the Board, as well as specific design options for the future of the 10th site. These documents will help inform the final decisions made by the Board through a public, transparent process, should Measure EE be approved.

How does the LASD bond tax rate compare to that in neighboring communities?

Los Altos School District currently has among the lowest bond tax rates in Santa Clara County. In fact, all but one District in the County has a higher tax rate to pay for voter-approved bond funding. As a result, the state of our classrooms and labs has fallen behind that of our neighbors in the region. If we want LASD schools to remain among the best in the region and state, we need Measure EE to address the critical repairs and updates needed to provide safe and modern learning facilities.

Didn’t we just pass a measure to fund our schools?

In November 2023, local voters approved Measure A to renew expiring parcel tax funding for our schools. Parcel taxes provide funding for ongoing expenditures like teachers and academic programs and cannot address the scale of repair and facility improvement needs in our District. Measure EE would provide dedicated one-time funding to update our classrooms and facilities for teachers and students.

How does the BCS charter renewal impact Measure EE?

It does not. BCS is currently undergoing the process of renewing its charter through the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Regardless of the outcome of that process, significant repair needs exist in our schools and our district is still operating 10 schools on nine campuses. A majority of the LASD Board has indicated a preference for BCS to occupy the 10th site, but as is the case with the final design of the school, all final decisions will be made only after Measure EE is approved.

How will Measure EE help provide safe and modern neighborhood schools for our students?

Locally controlled funding will allow essential repairs and upgrades to school roofs, windows, bathrooms, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling systems to provide a safe, healthy learning environment for all students.

Additionally, many students are learning in old, deteriorating portable classrooms that are well past their useful age, presenting critical safety issues. A local source of funding will allow portables to be replaced with permanent classrooms.

How can I be sure funds from Measure EE would be spent as promised?

By law, Measure EE requires strict fiscal accountability protections, including:

  • All funds are controlled locally and cannot be taken away by the State

  • No money can be used for administrators' salaries

  • Independent oversight and mandatory annual audits will ensure all funds are spent as voters intended

  • A project list outlining the specific use of funds is included in the measure

Would additional funding be used to construct an additional school site?

We know that having 10 schools at nine campuses isn’t working. Hundreds of students are taking classes at overcrowded junior high schools in dilapidated portables. Measure EE will provide funding for 10 schools on 10 campuses to relieve overcrowding, restore small neighborhood schools, and replace temporary portables with permanent classrooms. The exact design, layout and specifications of the school — including the future occupant — would be determined through a transparent, public process once Measure EE is approved, because we cannot move forward without this source of funding. That’s why we must vote Yes on EE.

I don’t have children attending local schools. How does this impact me?

Our outstanding schools are a crucial part of what makes our community special. Exceptional academics and skilled teachers not only prepare local children for lifelong success, but also protect the value of our homes here in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Los Altos Hills. According to LASD surveys, 9 in 10 parents report moving to the District for high-quality public schools. Great schools support our community’s quality of life and keep local property values strong.

Didn’t we already pass a bond measure to improve our schools and construct a tenth campus?

Local voters approved Measure N ten years ago to improve our schools and work towards a tenth school site. Measure N funds were used to acquire suitable land for a new school and the District was able to reduce costs by millions of dollars by collaborating with the City of Mountain View. With the acquisition of new land complete, local funding through Measure EE is needed to allow LASD to complete the 10th site, in addition to addressing the significant repair needs at our existing sites.

 Are senior exemptions available?

State law does not allow for exemptions to be applied to bond measures. However, because the cost of a bond measure is based on the original purchase price of a home, residents who have lived in their homes a long time have the lowest assessed values and will pay the least toward the cost of a bond measure.