At our October Board meeting, our Board of Education passed a resolution in support of Proposition 2, a measure that would authorize $10 billion in funding to modernize, repair, and construct school facilities statewide. If passed, Proposition 2 would stretch our bond dollars by 28% without increasing local property tax or any local and state taxes because this measure specifies that it would be repaid from existing state revenues.

As we move into the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many ways our community comes together to support our students. Whether it's cheering from the stands at games, attending performances, supporting us in passing a bond or volunteering in classrooms, the involvement of our families and community makes a lasting impact. It’s clear that Downey Unified is a special place, where we all work together to provide the very best opportunities for our children.

We are incredibly grateful for the continued trust and support of our community and our voters. Thanks to your generosity, Measure O in 2014 allowed us to make essential improvements to our middle schools, and Measure K in 2022 enabled us to begin the exciting process of modernizing our elementary campuses. These investments have made a real difference in creating safer, more inspiring spaces for our students to learn and grow.

With that same spirit of progress and partnership, I’d like to share some important information about Proposition 2 (State Measure 2), which will be on the November 2024 ballot and why our Board passed this resolution in support.

This measure represents a critical investment in the future of our schools across the state but will have an even bigger impact here in Downey. While we’ve made significant progress in Downey Unified, the work of upgrading our school facilities is ongoing. Every generation of students deserves access to modern classrooms that meet today’s learning needs, which is why Proposition 2 (State Measure 2) on the November 2024 ballot is so important to our schools.

This measure will help us continue modernizing our schools by providing state matching funds to update classrooms, enhanced safety measures, and construct spaces for the expansion of programs like Transitional Kindergarten and Career Technical Education (CTE). These continuous upgrades are essential to ensuring that our students have access to the modern, well-equipped learning environments they deserve—both today and for years to come.

A successful Proposition 2 ensures more projects for our schools to remain up to date and able to prepare students to thrive in an ever-evolving competitive workforce. This investment will benefit not just our students but our entire community. Strong schools mean a strong future for all of us.

Thank you for your continued support of Downey Unified. Together, we continue to build a brighter future for our students and community.

Don’t forget, “Take the Time to be Kind.”

Sincerely,

Nancy Swenson, President
Downey Unified Board of Education