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TUSD highlights Measure J bond sale and outlines campus safety upgrades
Summary
Tustin Unified officials reported a strong bond sale tied to Measure J and described plans to use measure funds for school safety upgrades — including doorbell entry systems, visitor management and expanded live cameras — with construction spending beginning this fall and completion targeted by 2026.
The Tustin Unified School District board on Monday highlighted a successful bond sale tied to Measure J and outlined near-term safety upgrades for district campuses. District leaders said the community-approved Measure J will fund renovations and safety projects, with initial work expected this fall and most projects completed by 2026.
Superintendent Johnson, describing the March bond issuance, said the district received robust interest: "we had 11 bidders" and the winning bid "had a true interest cost of 3.96%," a result the speaker characterized as significantly better than earlier expectations. Officials said roughly $261,000,000 is the measure authorization and that about $86,380,000 of the initial issuance will be available for construction and safety upgrades.
Why it matters: Measure J funds will pay for facility renovations and upgrade school safety systems across 28 campuses. The superintendent said safety measures are a priority for the district and will be among the first uses of bond funds.
What the board outlined: district staff described a multi-layer safety approach that pairs mental-health investment and staff training with physical security improvements. Speakers said the district currently operates about 330 cameras and is planning to install doorbell-style entry systems and visitormanagement systems at each school, add more live camera feeds for administrators, and standardize safety resources across sites.
Next steps: District leaders said work will begin as early as this fall and continue through 2026 as bond-funded projects are phased in. The board did not approve specific construction contracts in this presentation; staff indicated measure funds and financing results informed the capital program timeline.
At the meeting close, board members thanked staff and the community for support of Measure J and emphasized using the bond to improve student safety and facilities.
