Victor Valley superintendent outlines two $180 million school bonds at Adelanto council meeting

Carl Coles, superintendent of the Victor Valley Union High School District, presented to the Adelanto City Council on Aug. 14 two proposed bond measures the district plans to place before voters: Measure A to address overcrowding and Measure X for modernization and facility upgrades. Each measure was described at $180,000,000.

Coles said the district has seen rapid enrollment growth (he estimated Adelanto schools would reach about 2,300 students in the coming year), aging facilities (Victor Valley High School cited as roughly 72 years old), and deferred maintenance needs including roofs, pools, bleachers, ADA upgrades and shade structures. He said the district invests roughly $10 million annually in facilities but that capital needs outstrip recurring maintenance funding.

On cost, Coles gave the council a planning estimate: if both measures pass the typical impact would be around $23 per $100,000 of assessed value (a planning figure he said council members should use when discussing the measures with constituents). He emphasized transparency: an ad hoc and ongoing committee would prioritize projects and verify that voters’ expectations match final project lists.

Council members asked about prevailing‑wage requirements, timelines for projects, and whether the district had considered alternatives such as building on vacant junior‑high land. Coles said projects would go out to competitive bid, that routine maintenance is mandated at about 3% of facilities budget, and that some projects could take 10–14 years as bonds are issued over time. He offered to walk council members through campuses and tours and noted he would return with more detail as the district moves forward with its outreach.

The presentation did not commit the council to a formal city position; council members expressed support in principle and asked staff to coordinate community outreach and consider formal support at a later date.