The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) has released its 2023 annual report.
The report offers a wealth of information regarding District expenditures on GUHSD construction projects approved by voters through their passage of Proposition U, a $417 million bond passed in 2008, and Measure BB, a $128 million bond passed in 2016. This year’s report reviewed construction projects that were completed in 2023 and those scheduled to be completed in 2024.
A highlight of the report was that – for the second consecutive year – GUHSD received a perfect score of A+ on the School Bond Transparency Report Card from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.
The report concludes “That the projects for 2023 were consistent with the plan established and approved by the GUHSD Governing Board. Further, the financial reports presented to the CBOC from the District for the projects completed and underway were consistent with reported expenditures.” The full report can be found here.
“The investment made by East County citizens demonstrates their unyielding commitment to delivering a world-class, well-rounded education for our students,” said GUHSD Superintendent Mary Beth Kastan. “We take our responsibility to be good stewards of that investment very seriously, and that’s why we’re extremely proud to have earned a perfect score for transparency from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association,” she added.
In the report, 2023 CBOC Chair Dirk Epperson explained that the “CBOC provides an independent examination of District bond project planning and spending to afford the taxpayers and community at large validation that funds are being spent as intended and designed.” The committee consists of eleven volunteer members appointed by the GUHSD Governing Board. The CBOC examines expenditures by reviewing planning documents and financial reports, and they also visit construction sites and completed projects.
“We promised East County voters that we’d build safe, modern high schools, that we’d do so with transparency, and we’d always be accountable to them,” said GUHSD Governing Board President Robert Shield. “We have delivered on that promise, thanks in large part to our CBOC members’ countless hours of dedicated service,” continued Shield.
