Sierra Unified School District

Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee

Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) is enacted by a California law requiring oversight of public school bonds. The CBOC is charged with reviewing the spending of Bond funds and report their findings to the general public. Committee members who represent a variety of interests are appointed by the Board of Education to two-year terms. Meetings are open to the general public. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted on this website. The CBOC is required to follow the Brown Act.

The purpose of this committee is to inform the public concerning the expenditure of bond revenues. To fulfill this responsibility, the oversight committee is expressly required “to actively review and report on the proper expenditure of taxpayers’ money for school construction” and to “verify that the funds are being spent only for authorized purposes.” The oversight committee must promptly alert the public to any waste or improper expenditure of bond revenue.

Major requirements of the CBOC

Determine whether a district is spending the bond monies for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing, and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities.
Advise the public as to whether a district is spending the bond monies for the purposes specified above and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.
Determine whether a district is spending the bond monies for the specific school facilities projects listed in the bond measure information given to the public prior to the vote.
Receive and review copies of an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been expended only on the specific projects listed.
Receive and review copies of an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds until all those proceeds have been expended for the school facilities projects (listed in the bond measure).

Timeline

Board of Trustees enters the election results into its minutes - December 16, 2024
Board creates application for community members to apply
Board selects member of the CBOC based on applications received - no later than February 14, 2025

Makeup of CBOC

CBOC must have a minimum of seven members, with the five requirements as follows:

One member active in a business organization representing the business community located within the district.
One member active in a senior citizens’ organization.
One member active in a bona fide taxpayer’s organization.
One member who is the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the district: and
One member who is both a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the district and active in a parent-teacher organization.
An employee or official of the school district or community college district shall not be appointed to the citizens’ oversight committee. A vendor, contractor, or consultant of the school district or community college district shall not be appointed to the citizens’ oversight committee.

Process for selection

Make application available to community through website and in paper form
Application deadline established to seat the CBOC with 60 days of December 16, 2024
Board of trustees is encouraged to invite community members to apply
Applications are received at the District Office
Board Facilities subcommittee reviews applications and sorts by category of membership
If any required category is not represented, further outreach to the community to encourage applications
Bond facilities subcommittee makes recommendations to the full Board
Full Board seats committee members by February 14, 2024

Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee Application