Sent to be by a community member who found this on another forum. I am still not certain how I want to vote, but this has been the most accurate description of Measure S I’ve seen and this is why I am sharing it.

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ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CALABASAS COMMUNITY, I AM VOTING NO ON MEASURE S (LVUSD Schools Measure) - HERE IS WHY:

First and tragically, subject to proper controls and responsible spending, I absolutely support most of what Measure S is trying to accomplish. However, I look at this from two lenses. 1) as a parent with a child in LVUSD and 2) as a tax over-paying member of the Calabasas community.

We can all agree we need to update roofing, HVAC systems, plumbing, roofing, safety, security, etc...

The real question here is that, BASED ON MEASURE S MARKETING AND PROPAGANDA, THE COMMUNITY & VOTERS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY BEING MISLEAD AS TO WHAT MEASURE S MONEY IS REALLY BEING SPENT ON.

In most of the propaganda received, there are inspiring pictures of students with microscopes and lab equipment working diligently on their STEM projects with companion language such as “Provide modern labs,” “support high-quality instruction in math, science, engineering, technology, …”. This clearly implies to any average person that the district is intending to provide and/or update State-of-the-Art STEM Facilities at all campuses.

In fact, when you look at the 25 items on the Measure S Project List ( https://www.lvusd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=24&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=11596&PageID=1) for Calabasas High School, over 1/3 of the projects (9 of the 25) are sports-related, and NONE are related to "Math, Science, Engineering, Technology. " all while there is NO MENTION OF ANY STEM RELATED FACILITIES.

The sports facilities at CHS and AHS include but are not limited to the following:

• Stadium bleacher upgrades

• Field turf and track replacement

• Improve natural field surfaces

• Competition pool, including bleachers, shade, and changing areas (Both CHS and AHS)

• Practice gym (2nd Gym)

• LED for Stadium Lighting

• Installation of restrooms at ballfields

• Tennis Court Bleachers

• Laser Leveling and resurfacing of baseball and softball fields

• Sports Medicine CTE: Athletic Training Facility

• Gymnasium Shower & Locker Facilities

There appears to be a disproportionate focus on the improvement and construction of a multitude of sports facilities but NO STEM facilities, which is what they are promoting to secure votes in Measure S. The layman's term for this is “Bait and Switch.” Some lawyers might use the term “Fraud at the Inducement.”

How do we, as a community, stand by this apparent lack of integrity on the part of the district and campaign. Why not be truthful and forthright with what they are actually spending the money on? Is that not what we teach our kids? Instead, some might say the district is being incredibly duplicitous, which is certainly not a trait I want for my child’s educators.

The challenge is that much of Measure S is good. So, while I definitely support many elements (roofing, HVAC, safety, etc...), I cannot in good conscience support the incredibly misleading tactics the district and campaign seem to be utilizing to sell this to our community. After all, this is a colossal measure that will saddle the community with $340 Million Dollars of BRAND NEW DEBT, despite the other misleading propaganda that there is “NOT ONE DIME” of additional taxes. To be clear, these are new taxes. The old bond measure is ending, so if there was no Measure S, our taxes would meaningfully drop. This Measure will add those taxes back.

I personally support voting NO on this Measure. Then next election, support a brand new measure that will allow the entire community to determine where our priorities lie and, more importantly, ensure transparency in the campaign.

For me, as for many parents, while I would love to have great sports