Santa Paula board narrows bond ballot language, approves resolution to order election

The Santa Paula Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a resolution to order a facilities bond election after a focused discussion about what projects to list in the ballot summary.

Superintendent Mr. Weinstein told trustees the district has “I believe 75 words that we can use” for the top portion of the ballot statement, and legal counsel from Jones Hall advised limiting project names so the language stays clear and within the cap. That prompted trustees to debate whether to name the community pool explicitly or to use broader wording such as rebuilding the gymnasium, modernizing classrooms and improving safety and security.

Trustees weighing public sentiment and legal advice said a concise, transparent list that leads with the largest priorities would best communicate how bond proceeds are expected to be used. One trustee noted past bond failures that included pools but said the district cannot rely on voters to interpret a long list of items; another said listing major facilities is more honest and understandable for community members.

The board voted to adopt Resolution 2526.22 with the amended, simplified project language and authorized staff to file the finalized statement with the Ventura County Office of Elections within the district’s filing window. The motion passed by voice vote; the transcript records the vote as a board voice roll call but does not list individual vote tallies.

Next steps: staff will circulate the finalized ballot language to trustees by email, make any last edits requested by the board, and submit the statement to the county clerk for placement on the ballot.