Measure G is a bond measure on the June 7 ballot. Castro Valley Matters asked the Yes on G committee to find a supporter to submit a commentary in support of their measure. There is no official opposition. 

Our local elementary, middle and high schools here in Castro Valley are truly at the center of our community. Whether directly or indirectly, we are all connected to local schools in some way.

I am supporting Measure G because I am confident that it is a well-thought out plan to repair and upgrade aging classrooms and labs in Castro Valley schools.

Over the course of a year, the Castro Valley Unified School District undertook an inclusive and comprehensive facilities master planning process to determine facility needs at each and every school and develop a plan to address them. I was pleased to see significant community involvement not only from teachers, parents and staff, but also the community at large. Our schools in Castro Valley are at the heart of our community, and it is important that we all participate in planning for the future of local students.

The facilities master planning process revealed what many close to our schools already knew: aging schools are in dire need of repair and modernization. Local students deserve a safe and modern learning environment, absent leaky roofs, aging bathrooms and outdated heating and ventilation systems. Detailed site-by-site analyses conducted by third-party architects and school facility experts also identified necessary improvements to ensure our schools are easily accessible for students with disabilities.

Updating our classrooms and science labs also will make certain that local schools are equipped to meet the growing demand for science, technology, engineering, arts and math education. Expanding science labs, computers and other learning technology will adequately prepare local students for the jobs of the future, setting them on the path to success in the modern world.

Yet Measure G’s most important component is its strict fiscal accountability. No plan, however great, will ever succeed without a proper feedback mechanism. That’s what makes Measure G a truly great plan. The mandatory independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee would comprise a true cross-section of Castro Valley. The Committee requires a minimum of seven members, with representatives from the business community, a taxpayer organization, a senior citizens’ organization and a parent group.

This strict oversight, coupled with annual performance audits, assures me that every penny of Measure G will be accounted for. The District’s Facilities Master Plan outlined significant repair needs in local schools and I am confident that Measure G is the wise and responsible solution to address those needs.

Finally, I think it is important to note that Measure G is an entirely local solution. By law, every last dollar of Measure G must be spent here in Castro Valley to fix local schools. The State — which has proven an unreliable funding partner to local schools time and time again — can’t touch any of it.

At the end of the day, our local schools are at the core of what makes Castro Valley a great place to live. Whether or not you have kids, there is no denying that strong schools make a strong community. Our excellent local schools make our homes desirable to families with young children, attracting them to our neighborhoods. Strengthening Castro Valley schools will undoubtedly strengthen local property values.

It’s no secret that I have kept a close eye on Castro Valley schools. That’s why I am proud to support Measure G. It is a carefully thought out, community-driven plan to prepare our students for the 21st Century. I urge you to vote Yes on G.

Bernie Kempen is a former PTA president at Proctor Elementary, Creekside Middle School and Castro Valley High School, and served on the Proctor School Site council and the Castro Valley Unified School District Parent Leadership Council. The former president of the Castro Valley Rotary Club and the Castro Valley Arts Foundation, he is a certified Family Law Specialist in Castro Valley, where he has lived for 27 years and where his four kids attended public schools.