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Murrieta Valley board approves facilities master plan project list, paving way for possible bond vote
Summary
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District Board approved a facilities master plan project list after public comment and trustee discussion, voting unanimously (4‑0). Residents urged the district to place a bond measure on the ballot; trustees emphasized transparency, online cost escalators and community engagement.
Board President Nicholas Cardew reconvened the Murrieta Valley Unified School District Board in open session and, after presentation and public comment, trustees approved the district’s facilities master plan project list by a unanimous 4‑0 vote.
Deputy Superintendent Darren Daniels presented the project list as the result of nearly nine months of planning, analysis and community engagement, calling it a “clear defensible road map” to address health, safety and infrastructure needs over the next 10 to 15 years. "Approval of this project list is a pivotal governance action," Daniels told the board.
Members of the public urged the board to place a bond measure on the ballot so voters can decide. Dr. Lisa DeForest, who identified herself as a Marietta city councilwoman and former mayor and said both of her sons attended Murrieta Valley High School, told trustees: "This bond is not a new tax. It's an extension of an already in place." She said updated classrooms and resources had changed students’ lives and strongly supported a ballot measure.
Other speakers pressed the board for more detail and transparency. Bob Cowell urged the district to provide specific replacement dates and costs for items such as solar panels and battery backups, saying the last bond effort failed in part because the project list lacked sufficient detail. Jack Guerrero called for prioritization and careful ballot language, warning trustees to be mindful of the tax burden on homeowners.
Trustees responded that the district had worked to provide detailed information online, including an interactive "escalator" showing probable costs for projects at individual schools. A board member noted the district’s tax rate comparisons and described efforts to maintain a stable rate by drawing down expiring bonds rather than increasing levies.
After additional discussion about priorities, transparency and community outreach, the Board voted to approve the facilities master plan project list; the presiding officer announced the motion carried 4‑0. The district indicated the project list approval moves it from planning toward implementation and positions the Board to consider funding options, including a potential bond to be placed before voters.
