WATSONVILLE — Almost five years after Pajaro Valley residents passed Measure L, the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury criticized Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the citizens’ committee assigned to oversee it for alleged lack of reporting the bond’s financial information to the public.
Measure L is a $150 million bond created in 2012 to fund scores of construction, upgrade and repair projects at schools throughout PVUSD.
The bond — and state law — requires that a Community Oversight Committee (COC) is assigned to make sure that the funds are being spent in accordance with the terms and conditions approved by the voters. The committee does not, however, have the authority to approve or deny any projects.
Among other things, the grand jury report states that there is no comprehensive list of Measure L projects that has been certified by the PVUSD Board of Trustees for the public.
“The lack of a complete, comprehensive and updated list of all Measure L projects planned, completed or approved by the trustees makes it impossible for the public to be informed,” the report states.
The COC, furthermore, had not given an annual update to the Board of Trustees as of May 2017, as is required by state law.
The informational Measure L page on the district’s website provided no information on changes to the project list and budget updates, the report stated.
The report was also critical of the lack of training for the COC in areas such as overseeing bond budgets and expenditures, cost reduction and financial reporting.
That department has not provided updated scheduling reports to other departments, the COC and school sites, which the report said has led to “system inefficiency.”
The report attributed the problems in part to “significant turnover” of upper PVUSD management, including former Chief Business Officer Brett McFadden and Superintendent Dorma Baker, both of whom were instrumental in helping the measure pass.
In addition, the district’s director of Maintenance, Operations and Facilities was on an extended leave, the report said.
Since the grand jury began its investigation, the district hired Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez, who has taken a decidedly proactive approach to management by holding “listening sessions” at all the school sites, among other things included in her 100-day plan. The district has also hired a new facilities director.
“I have full confidence in the new superintendent,” PVUSD Board of Trustees President Kim De Serpa said. “I think all the board does. She is innovative and holds people accountable.”
De Serpa pointed out that the district is planning on completing 50 projects over the summer.
She also pointed out that the district has allocated a portion of its Proposition 98 funds into the Measure L projects.
“With that cost savings, we hope to make further facility improvements.” De Serpa said.
In addition, the district stands to receive a portion of the funds from Proposition 51, a 2016 voter-approved, $9 billion bond measure designed in part to fund school modernization projects statewide.
According to De Serpa, that could mean a 49 percent match of the district’s Measure L projects.
The district has also refinanced the interest rate for Measure J, another bond measure to fund school projects, which voters approved in 2002, De Serpa said.
“We’re really trying to do innovative things,” she said.
In a prepared statement, Rodriguez said that district administration will work with the board of trustees to investigate the allegations.
“We remain committed to the promises we made to our community and to improving the educational facilities for our students,” she stated.
In addition, the district completed 66 projects using $23 million in Measure L funding from 2012-15, according to Rodriguez.
In the last 18 months, furthermore, the district completed projects at 17 school sites, she said.
Under state law, organizations typically have 90 days to respond to grand jury reports. They are not, however, required to implement any of the suggested changes.
The district said it plans to release a response before Sept. 30.
