MiraCosta College has been awarded a perfect score on the San Diego County Taxpayers’ Education Foundation’s “2023 School Bond Transparency in San Diego County Summary Report” – meeting 28 out of 28 categories looking at the availability and accessibility of public information on bond programs.
MiraCosta College is one of six, out of 26 districts scored, to have an A+ ranking, with districts rated on the accessibility and timeliness of key reports and information on their bond programs, including lists of project descriptions, progress, and itemized expenditures, oversight committee members, contact information and committee vacancies, posting of committee meetings and minutes, bond fund annual reports and annual audits, and archives of annual reports.
MiraCosta College has consistently scored among the top districts in the Transparency Scorecard, the taxpayer group’s 11th annual. The bond programs are graded by the various members of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA), who volunteer their time and talent on bond oversight committees.
“MiraCosta College makes great efforts to ensure transparency,” said Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, MiraCosta College Superintendent/President. “The detailed work of our Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and our independent audits are part of our strategy to ensure transparency, accountability, and accessibility for the public. We remain grateful to voters and taxpayers for having trust and confidence in MiraCosta College and approving Measure MM,” she adds. “Measure MM has allowed us to build for the future of education in the North County while also investing in our local workforce.”
“We are so grateful to our members who are keeping a watchful eye on how bond monies are spent,” said Haney Hong, President and CEO of SDCTA. “We must acknowledge our members who engage in bond oversight and are committed to their communities and transparency. On behalf of your fellow taxpayers, I thank you for your service.”
“While the Taxpayers Association evaluates a large range of factors when considering support for school bonds, one of the more important ones is the district’s transparency grades on this report card,” said Terry McKearney, chair of SDCTA’s Excellence in Education committee. “The time will eventually come when another bond is put on the ballot, and when it does, we strongly recommend taxpayers to consider their district’s transparency score as a part of their decision.”
Measure MM is a $455 million general obligation bond approved by voters in 2016 to modernize aging facilities and upgrade instructional technology.
The measure provides for several key improvements, including:
- Upgrades to the Veterans Center to enhance facilities and services which provide job training, job placement, counseling, and support services
- Upgrades to career training facilities for science, health care, technology, and skilled trades
- Modernize instructional technology for improved student learning in core subjects like math, science, and technology
- Improve access for students with disabilities
- Repair or replace leaky roofs, worn-out floors and restrooms, outdated plumbing, and faulty electrical systems
- Update science centers and labs to allow for state-of-the-art courses in biology, chemistry, and physical sciences
The program and construction manager for the capital improvement program is Kitchell Capital Expenditures Manager (CEM), in association with Element Consulting, Inc., and Vic Salazar Communications.
Detailed information about the District’s Capital Improvement projects is available for public review through the Capital Improvement Dashboard on MiraCosta College’s website. The Dashboard provides build-out details, financial performance, and project schedule performance.
