We are proud to provide students with a high-quality, well-rounded education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life. Our schools are known for strong academics, outstanding teachers and staff, and a commitment to supporting the whole child through quality arts, athletics, career pathways, and student wellness programs. Through strong partnerships with families and the community, we continue to build on a tradition of educational excellence and student success.

Maintaining safe, up-to-date, and well-equipped classrooms, labs, and school facilities helps support strong student achievement and future-ready learning. Many of our classrooms and facilities were built over 65 years ago and need repairs and upgrades. For example, deteriorating roofs resulted in 77 reported leaks last year. Additionally, 298 heating and cooling systems are over 25 years old and need replacement. Some schools still have aging underground clay and cast-iron pipes that can cause gas leaks, water leaks, and sewage backups.

Our District has worked to responsibly maintain facilities over time, making the most of limited available resources. However, due to the age and condition of our school buildings and infrastructure, significant repairs and improvements are needed to keep schools safe, functional, and able to continue supporting quality education. The State does not provide dedicated funding for school repairs and improvements. Completing school repairs and upgrades within our District’s regular operating budget would require diverting significant funding from teaching and instructional programs, requiring deep cuts to educational programs.

Our District has completed a detailed assessment of all classrooms, school facilities and grounds. School facility experts have evaluated school site conditions and provided recommendations on the priority repairs, upgrades, and modernization projects needed to support safe, functional, and modern learning environments for all students.

To upgrade aging school facilities and continue supporting high-quality education, our District is considering placing a local school improvement bond measure on the ballot. If approved by voters, funding could be used to address critical repair and upgrade needs and ensure all students have access to high-quality facilities and opportunities.

If approved by voters, school improvement bond measure funding could be used to:

•  Upgrade classrooms, labs, and technology to support high-quality instruction in math, science, engineering, and technology
• Provide modern labs and career technical education facilities and equipment so students are prepared for college and in-demand careers in fields like health and medical sciences, engineering, and skilled trades
• Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead pipes from older schools
• Repair or replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, gas lines, sewer lines, HVAC, and electrical systems
• Improve student safety and campus security
• Upgrade older schools to meet current health codes, building safety codes, and accessibility requirements for students with disabilities

Yes. Passage of a bond measure could make us eligible to receive millions in state matching funds for school repairs and upgrades. Without local funding, those state funds would go to improve schools in other communities.

Yes. By law, a school facilities bond measure would include strict fiscal accountability protections, including:

• All funds must stay local to support students and cannot be taken by the state or federal governments or used for other purposes
• A detailed project list outlining how funds would be spent
• An independent oversight committee
• Annual independent audits

There are no other practical funding sources to address identified repairs and upgrades at local schools. Without a bond measure, we would have to divert funding from teaching and classroom programs to address urgent and unavoidable facility repairs needed to keep aging schools functioning. This would require severe cuts to academic programs and increases in class sizes. Waiting to address school facility repairs and upgrades only makes the projects more expensive to complete.

In 2008 and 2014, local voters approved bond measures to fund school repairs and upgrades that were urgent at that time. A new middle school was constructed, outdated and deteriorating facilities were replaced with new facilities at some campuses, and school learning technology and infrastructure was updated. It has now been 12 years since the last major investment in school facilities and school facilities continue to age, school infrastructure reaches the end of its useful life, and new urgent repairs and upgrades have been identified.

By state law, exemptions of any kind are not allowed for school facility improvement bond measures. However, the cost of any bond is based on the assessed value of taxpayers’ properties. Seniors and other residents who have lived in their homes for a long time have the lowest assessed values and would pay the least.

The cost of bond measures is based on the assessed value of properties. The assessed value of a property is based on the original purchase price and may not increase by more than 2% a year, while the market value tends to grow at a much faster rate based on market conditions. Thus, the assessed value of a property is usually much lower than the market value, especially if a property was purchased long ago at a much lower price than it could be purchased for today. It is this lower assessed value upon which the cost of a bond measure is based.

Even if you do not have school-age children, funding quality education can help improve the quality of life in the community and protect home values.

All registered voters in the Torrance Unified School District would be eligible to vote on the bond measure.

At least 55% of voters who cast a ballot on the measure must vote “Yes” in order for it to be approved.

While no final decision has been made, the school improvement bond measure is being considered for the November 3, 2026 ballot.

To learn more about our plan to maintain quality education in our local schools, visit tusd.org.