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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
Page 49
Bond financing is the primary source of funding for addressing the capital needs of the Napa Valley Unified School District.
F2
Page 49
The NVUSD website is complex to navigate making it difficult to find bond financial data and reports.
F3
Page 49
Charging NVUSD employee salaries against bond funds, while permissible in limited circumstances, may reduce public trust by contradicting public pledges and bond ballot language that states, “no funds for administrators”.
F4
Page 49
NVUSD does not adequately inform the general public that the Citizen Bond Oversight Committees play critical roles in satisfying California’s Proposition 39 (2000), which requires school boards to establish independent oversight committees and conduct annual financial and performance audits until all bond funds have been spent.
F5
Page 49
NVUSD’s Citizen Bond Oversight Committees lack thorough and independent training on the roles, scope of work, relationship with school district personnel, and authority of its members.
F6
Page 49
The creation and execution of NVUSD’s 2016-2025 Facilities Master Plan had only limited public participation. NVUSD Policy 7110: Facilities Master Plan is found at the NVUSD Policies website, https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=36030213. Education Code § 17070.54. 42 | P age COMMENDATION The 2024-25 Napa County Civil Grand Jury commends the volunteer members of the NVUSD Bond Oversight Committees for their monitoring spending of Measure H and Measure A2 bond funds.
F7
Page 68
School bus transportation service was found to be inadequate to serve the district, with persistent equipment problems undermining reliability.
F8
Page 68
The school community is divided, with one group of parents and teachers supporting changes in the school and another favoring a return to prior practices and personnel. 61 | P age
Recommendations 6
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R1Page 50NVUSD should maintain an ongoing campaign using multiple media outlets and distribution tools to inform stakeholders and the general public on the details and progress of the projects associated with bond fund allocations, and do so
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R2Page 50Narrow bond measure election results strongly suggest that NVUSD should build community trust by proactively distributing information and updates to inform the general public on how bond funds are being allocated and used, and do so
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R3Page 50NVUSD should continue its current practice to refrain from using bond funds for any district salaries, operating expenses or other administrative activities.
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R4Page 50NVUSD should inform the general public about the role of bond oversight committees and actively encourage stakeholder groups, especially community members and parents of students, to participate on such committees, effective no later than 90 days after the publication of this 2024-2025 Napa County Civil Grand Jury report.
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R5Page 50NVUSD should arrange for independent training of Citizen Bond Oversight Committees, starting with the new Measure B committee, and do so
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R6Page 50NVUSD should implement fully its existing facilities planning policy by establishing a Facilities Advisory Committee consisting of staff, parents/guardians, and business, local government, and other community representatives, and do so before a new Facilities Master Plan is created and no later than June 30, 2026.
Commendations 2
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CM1The Civil Grand Jury commends the Napa County Elections Division Staff and Registrar of Voters. These individuals executed their duties expertly and conducted their operations in a manner that ensured the elections were safe, secure, and conducted in accordance with the law and procedures. The Elections Division staff governed the process with integrity and transparency. 18 | P age
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CM2The 2024-25 Napa County Civil Grand Jury commends the volunteer members of the NVUSD Bond Oversight Committees for their monitoring spending of Measure H and Measure A2 bond funds.