YES on Y and Z

" Torrance Unified School District is one of the oldest school districts in California. Most Torrance school buildings are over 50 years old; some almost 100 years old. Each year over 25,000 students attend Torrance schools, and after decades of continuous use, aging school facilities are in desperate need of repairs and renovations to provide a safe and modern learning environment for students. In 1998 Torrance voters approved a bond measure to fund the first phase of school facility renovations. These funds were used to address the most urgent and critical facility problems. These funds were also used to qualify for state matching funds to reduce the cost to local taxpayers. Passage of Measures Y & Z allow for the completion of the next phase of facility renovations at Torrance schools. Specifically, Measure Y would fund core academic school facility renovations, including: Repairing damaged walls, floors and foundations Replacing worn-out roofs, plumbing and lighting systems Repairing faulty drainage systems, hardscapes, and other safety hazards Removing asbestos and other hazardous materials from school sites Providing classroom technology needed to prepare students for the workforce Renovating outdated classrooms and science labs (including replacing Hull Middle School) Measure Z would fund the renovation of facilities that support learning, extra-curricular activities and ensure student safety, including: Renovating worn-out physical education facilities, playgrounds and fields that serve the entire Torrance community Constructing music and art classrooms and science labs at schools that do not have these facilities State matching funds are available only if the community passes Measures Y & Z. Without Measures Y & Z these matching funds will go to other school districts to fund the repair of their schools. Every penny from Measures Y & Z will stay in Torrance and cannot be taken away by the State. By law, may only be used for the specific facility projects included in the District’s project list. No funds can be used for administrator salaries. Measures Y & Z require an independent citizens’ oversight committee and mandatory independent annual audits to ensure funds are spent properly. Waiting will only make these renovations more expensive. Providing a safe and modern learning environment for our students will improve the quality of education in Torrance schools. Good schools protect our property values, which is more important now than ever." From the website.