Voters in the Denair Unified School District appear poised to pass a $34.3 million bond measure that
would support major upgrades, especially at the elementary and high school campuses.

With 100% of the early absentee ballots and votes cast at precincts Tuesday counted, Measure Z had
1,445, or 61.9%, “yes” votes and 889, or 38.1%, “no” votes. It takes 55% for the measure to pass.

The totals are from a 1:17 a.m. update from the Stanislaus County Election Office. There still are an
unknown number of absentee ballots that were returned since Saturday to verify and count.

Measure Z would add $60 per $100,000 of assessed value to property owners’ tax bills, as indicated in
the sample ballot provided to each voter. However, this tax rate will not be levied until the district’s
2001 election bonds are paid off in 2028. Therefore, the new Measure Z tax rate would be offset by a
scheduled reduction in future rates, and there is no projected increase in overall bond rates to
taxpayers.

Superintendent Terry Metzger said that the money raised from Measure Z would pay for a range of
much-needed improvements in the district, many of them at Denair Elementary Charter Academy, the
district’s oldest campus.

 Construction of two new classroom wings
 Relocation of the kitchen to the gym (currently, much of the cooking for DECA students is done
at Denair Middle School)
 Creation of a drop off/pick up and bus zone (like at DMS) on Madera Avenue for efficiency and
safety
 Conversion of the old cafeteria into an administration building
 Security enhancements, including making DECA a single-point entry campus

Measure Z money also would be used to make Denair Charter Academy a single-point entry facility,
Metzger said. At Denair High School, the 400 wing of portables would be replaced a permanent
classroom building and other security upgrades completed. DMS, the district’s newest campus, would
receive some classroom upgrades and repairs.

A grass-roots committee of parents, employees and community members worked on the Measure Z
campaign. They got the word out through social media, talking with neighbors and friends, walking
neighborhoods, texting, and direct mailers.

“Funds from Measure Z will be carefully spent to ensure that our children have campuses that support
teaching and learning in a modern and safe environment,” Metzger said.

As part of its passage, Measure Z includes a bond oversight committee. Metzger encouraged residents
interested in serving on the committee to contact the district office.