Measure A: Bond Measure
Upland Unified School District · San Bernardino County · November 3, 2026
The question on your ballot
To improve the quality of education by modernizing, constructing, upgrading and equipping classrooms, restrooms/school facilities, career technical classrooms/labs; replace roofs; make safety/security improvements; and renovate/replace electrical/plumbing/sewer systems; shall Upland Unified School District's measure be adopted, authorizing $236,700,000 of bonds at legal rates, levying approximately $47.50 per $100,000 assessed value (raising $14,200,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with audits, independent oversight, NO money for salaries, including administrators, only Upland USD educational facilities?
Impartial analysis
August 13, 2026 [phone number omitted] This Measure was placed on the ballot by a resolution adopted by the Board of Education of the Upland JOLENA E. GRIDER, Deputy County Counsel County Counsel LETESHIA WILSON Elections Specialist Communications Department of the Registrar of Voters COUNTY COUNSEL IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS- UPLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND MEASURE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 Unified School District (District). A “yes” vote by at least fifty -five percent of the voters voting on this Measure will authorize the District to issue bonds in the amount of $236,700,000 to be used solely for the purposes set forth in this ballot Measure. A “no” vote means that the District will not be authorized to issue and sell the $236,700,000 in bonds set forth in the Measure. The District’s Resolution was adopted pursuant to California Education Code sections 15100 et seq., 15264, et seq., Government Code section 53506 and Articles XIIIA and XVI of the California Constitution. The bond proceeds may only be used for the types of projects listed in the Measure which is contained in Exhibit B to the Resolution. These projects include: constructing, expanding, renovating, modernizing, replacing, upgrading, or removing classrooms and learning spaces to support current educational programs and improve safety, accessibility and operational efficiency; various building property maintenance projects and updating/adding restrooms; providing upgraded or new classrooms, labs, shops, and specialized instructional spaces for job training and career readiness after high school; constructing or renovating science, technology, engineering and math ( STEM) classrooms, labs, and teaching spaces , student support facilities, facilities to provide administrative services and multi-purpose rooms/auditoriums/theaters; improving school safety and security through upgraded emergency communications, cameras, alarms, fencing, emergency response systems, security infrastructure, secure campus entry points , student safety and traffic flow at parking and school drop- off and pick -up areas ; improving facilities for accessibility, including those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act ; and other projects for all grade levels of schools and other District sites . Some of the projects listed in the Measure may assume the receipt of matching State funds which may or may not be approved by the State Legislature. The District will conduct financial and performance audits annually and all bond expenditures will be monitored by an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure that the bond proceeds are spent as promised and specified as required by Education Code section 15278 et seq. in order to ensure bond revenues are used for proper purposes . No District employees or vendors will be allowed to serve on the Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Bond proceeds cannot be used for teacher or administrator salaries not related to oversight of the projects. The District will also take all actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds from the bond Measure will be deposited in accordance with state law. The bonded debt will be a general obligation of the District and will be financed by taxes levied annually on taxable property located within the District. LAURA FEINGOLD County Counsel JOLENA E. GRIDER Deputy County Counsel
Official ballot arguments
Filed for the official voter guide by each side, printed as submitted.
Argument in favor
Argument in Favor of Measure A Your Yes Vote on Measure A will do three things: Repair schools. Protect students. Prepare our children for the future. Many of our District's campuses were built in the 1950s and 60s and need repairs and updates to meet modern education and safety standards. Our students can't prepare for careers in the 21st century if they are still learning in old, outdated classrooms and labs. All students deserve safe schools. Aging HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems have failed several times in recent years, causing learning disruptions. In the last two years alone, the District suffered 602 roof leaks and 1,294 plumbing failures. While Upland Unified School District has a positive budget certification and certified reserves for the next 3 years, the State does not provide adequate funding for these facility repairs and updates at our schools without a local funding source. Your YES vote on Measure A is a trustworthy investment in student safety and classroom upgrades. Strong schools protect property values, support quality of life, and improve our neighborhoods . ALL Funds For Facilities, ZERO funds for Salaries: • All funds would be controlled locally for our schools only and could not be taken away by the State • ZERO funds could be used for employee salaries or general expenses • An independent citizens' oversight committee and mandatory annual audits will ensure ALL funds are spent as voters intended Keep Upland Students Safe and Prepared: • Improve school safety and security systems • Provide classrooms and labs for job training and career readiness after high school • Repair or replace leaky roofs • Make accessibility improvements for people with disabilities • Upgrade inadequate plumbing, electrical, sewer and HVAC systems • Make energy efficiency improvements that reduce school utility costs Let's lift Upland students up with safe, modern schools that prepare them for the future. Vote YES on A. Signers: Dr. Loren Sanchez, Retired Superintendent of Upland School District Farzad Yektafar, CEO, Upland Scheu YMCA FILE Sarah Fash, President, Upland Teachers Association Emily Gomez, Auditor, Highlander Educational Foundation AUS 14 2026 Steve Spears, Retired CPA and Upland Resident BY Q.5
Rebuttal to the Argument in Favor of Measure A The School District should not be asking taxpayers for $237 Million dollars to fix clogged toilets, leaky faucets or leaky roofs! These are ordinary facility operations problems to be paid from the District’s $173 million dollar budget revenues. Bonds are for capital improvements not routine repairs and maintenance. Taxpayers are still paying for the previous school bond for technology upgrades at all campuses, energy efficiency, upgrading classrooms, roofs and facilities. It’s outrageous the District wants MORE BOND MONEY for the same reasons. At today’s interest rates, the new proposed bond could cost taxpayers over $600 MILLION dollars over the next 30 years! The decline in student enrollment is predicted to continue. The District must face the economic reality and not request for more tax dollars from residents struggling with the rising cost of living. This potentially means school closures, operations consolidations and reductions to administrative staffing preferably through attrition. All the money spent from the previous bond funds had no positive impact on educational outcomes based on the dismal standardized student test scores. There is an apparent curriculum problem at the District and Statewide. Over 1300 University of California professors have requested the Chancellor to reinstate SAT/ACT standardized testing for incoming students to address the decline in student preparedness for college level courses. More bond money will not fix this problem. Providing a solid education to students is key to their success. More bond money will not fix the poor standardized testing results problem. VOTE NO on A!
Argument against
Argument Against Measure A As a former part time adjunct professor in the Business Department at Chaffey College for 13 years teaching business courses, I helped students to advance their careers. I know the value of a good education. Taxpayers are still paying for the District’s previous bond measure to modernize school facilities, energy upgrades and new technology. Now the District is proposing a new $237 million bond to be paid over the next 20 years for essentially the same purposes. The District’s current operating budget revenue is a whopping $173 MILLION! Properly managed budgeting sets aside funding for maintenance, repairs and replacement of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, roofs etc. Where is the accountability and oversight the School Board should be providing? District student population has DECLINED 25% in the last 15 years. Why is the District asking for bond funding to expand school classrooms? It’s not needed! The District actually allows a significant number of students from other cities to transfer into Upland schools to help make up for the decline in student population. It is expected to continue to decline. Most technology becomes obsolete in a couple of years and is not the answer to better education. Giving Chromebooks to students was not a good outcome. A staggering 55% of Upland students are below grade level in mathematics and 45% below grade level in reading according to recent standardized testing! Additional bond money will not fix this problem! The District needs to operate within its $173 MILLION budgeted revenue! Upland’s working families and seniors on a fixed income are struggling to make ends meet with the high cost of living. Home, car, prescription and medical insurance costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Food, gasoline, heating and air conditioning costs have also severely strained household budgets. Vote NO on A!
Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure A Quality schools are key to providing an excellent education, preserving property values, and maintaining our great community. As parents and engaged community members, we know the condition of our schools firsthand. While our schools are well cared for, they were built decades ago. After 70 years of near-daily use by our community, they simply need critical updates to meet today’s health, safety, and educational standards. The facts simply speak for themselves. FACT: The District’s responsible fiscal management has resulted in a balanced budget and 100% compliant oversight of previous bond funds. FACT: No other source of funding exists to upgrade our schools. The State provides funding for staff, books, and basic maintenance, but not major renovations that Upland schools currently require. Measure A will provide locally controlled funding needed to upgrade failing plumbing, electrical, sewer, and HVAC systems. FACT: The State will provide millions in matching funds to help pay for projects, but a local match is required to qualify. Measure A is that match and is the only solution to improve Upland Unified School District classrooms and school facilities. Measure A protects local taxpayers with strict accountability measures. No funds for ANY salaries or general expenses. No money for the State, only locally controlled funds for voter-approved projects. Full transparency with independent oversight and annual audits. We know what our students deserve: safe, modern schools that help maintain a high-achieving, well- rounded education. Vote Yes on A to repair schools, protect students, and prepare our children for the future! s/ Jonathan Dunn, Upland Citizen Bond Oversight Committee s/ Joel Cascadden, Upland Fire Battalion Chief (Ret.) s/ Allyson Brown, Former PTA President, Upland s/ Alan K. Ontiveros, Realtor/Real Estate Agent s/ Bonnie Cole, Executive Director, Foothill Family Shelter
What supporters and opponents say — outside sources (not official ballot arguments)
Statements by campaigns, officials and news coverage, quoted with attribution and linked to the original. VoterDecoder did not write them and does not endorse either side.
Supporters say
No public statements in favor were found.
Opponents say
No public statements against were found.