Upland school bond fails at 42.83% while San Bernardino measure soars to 70.82%
Early counts from Tuesday's election show a mixed bag for Inland Empire voters, with some districts clearing the 55% threshold and others falling short.
By Julia Novak ·
Voters in the Inland Empire sent mixed signals on school infrastructure spending in Tuesday's election, with early results showing a sharp divide between districts. While several bond measures are tracking well above the 55% approval threshold required to pass, others are trailing the necessary support. The disparity is most visible in Upland, where the bond measure is currently losing by a wide margin, while San Bernardino City Unified School District is seeing overwhelming support for its proposal.
The measures on the ballot generally fund repairs to aging plumbing and electrical systems, upgrades to computer labs, and the replacement of portable classrooms. The specific projects vary by district, but the financial ask remains consistent in its reliance on property tax revenue for repayment. As of early Wednesday, election officials are still counting ballots, but the current tallies provide a clear snapshot of voter sentiment across the region.
In Upland Unified School District, Measure A stands at 42.83% in favor against 57.17% opposition. This places the measure well below the 55% bar set by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Sarah Johangiry, a district spokesperson, declined to offer comments on the early numbers on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Measure Z is leading with 70.82% in favor and 29.18% against. In the same county, the San Bernardino Community College District’s Measure Y is also winning by a wide margin at 63.39% in favor. Chancellor Diana Rodriguez said the district placed the $898 million measure on the ballot after spending a year listening to community needs. She described the early results as encouraging and noted the funds will support programs for firefighters, nurses, and skilled trades professionals.
The picture is more complicated in southwest Riverside County. Temecula Valley Unified School District’s Measure S has 51.91% support, which is below the passing threshold. Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s Measure M is even closer, with 49.47% in favor and 50.53% against. Monica Gutierrez, a spokesperson for Murrieta Valley, said the district conducted a year of community outreach before bringing the measure to voters. She stated that while the measure appears unlikely to pass, the need for safe and functional learning environments remains a priority.
Other districts in the region are positioned to pass if the current trends hold. Hemet Unified School District’s Measure I is leading at 58.48% in favor. Superintendent Christi Barrett said the $225 million bond addresses critical campus needs, including aging roofs and deteriorating heating systems. She emphasized that the measure was designed to extend the current tax rate rather than increase it.
Claremont Unified School District in Los Angeles County is also ahead, with Measure CS at 62.97% in favor. In Riverside County, Beaumont Unified School District’s Measure B sits at 52.25% and Perris Union High School District’s Measure AA is at 54.65%, both of which are currently below the passing mark but remain within striking distance.
Statewide, there were 87 school bond measures on the ballot across 40 of California’s 58 counties. The average measure seeks to raise $144.5 million. Sarah Hinkley, a policy research director at UC Berkeley, predicted before the election that roughly 75% of these measures would be approved. She noted that the requested amounts are near the historical median, though she flagged cost of living concerns as a variable that could influence voter decisions.
