SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDIES ANOTHER BOND MEASURE
At its regular meeting on December 10, 2010, the Board of Trustees of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District began to consider placing a general obligation bond measure on a future ballot – i.e., a Proposition 39 bond measure for the November 2, 2010, election.
In a memo to the Board (dated December 10, 2010), Dr. Orta-Camilleri (Superintendent) described some of the district’s facilities needs as including: “a new roof at Ralston [Middle School]; modernization at several schools sites (improved lighting system, updating plumbing, additional parking, floor replacement due to moisture damage, prevent flooding in certain areas, etc.); technology updates and equipment renewal; artificial turf; seismic upgrades; and increased classroom space.” The Superintendent also reported that there is an added possibility for the district to apply for an additional $18 million in matching from the state but “in order for us to apply for these funds, we need to have local matching funds which could come from a local bond measure.”
Superintendent Orta-Camilleri reported that “although we have tried to address our facilities needs by completing minor repairs and maximizing classroom space, we have now exhausted our classroom space and many of our current buildings are in need of repair or modernization.”
If successful, based on the distribution of Assessed Property Values in the District, about half of the bond proceeds would come from Redwood Shores.
The Board began its study session with a general overview regarding a bond measure. Presenters included: a pollster from Godbe Research; a public relations consultant from TBWB Strategies; a financial advisor from California Financial Services; and, legal counsel from Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth.
At the conclusion of the study session, the Board unanimously voted to authorize district staff to begin the process of establishing the specific facility needs that might be funded with a bond by undertaking a Facility Master Planning Process and initiate the process of preparing a community opinion survey to establish the probable level of community support for a new bond measure based on projects identified in the Facility Master Planning process.
The project timetable describes key activities in 2010 including: a voter survey in January/February; finalizing bond project lists and Facility Master Plan by March/April; adopting Board resolution calling for bond election by late July or early August; and, campaigning from August to the November election. A copy of the detailed timetable for the Proposition 39 Bond Election can be found at the district’s website.
UPDATE ON THE NEW REDWOOD SHORES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
On Friday, December 4, 2009, all seven members of the Measure C School Bond Oversight Committee visited the new school construction site in Redwood Shores. We were accompanied by members of the New Shores School Advisory Committee, school district staff, Sandpiper Elementary School principal, and construction team representatives from Blach Construction and Meehleis Modular. Interiors now include carpeting, built-in storage, counters, and lighting. The school is beautiful inside and out!
We toured: Building A containing administration and 6 classrooms; Building B with library and learning center; Building C╒s 6 classrooms; Building C1╒s science/music room, small kitchen, and multi-purpose room; and, Buildings D and E with 2 kindergarten classrooms each and a smaller playground between them. We also saw the pad for Building F which will be 2 self-contained before/after school classrooms. The multi-purpose room is especially impressive ╨ windows on three sides, as large as the multi-purpose room at Sandpiper Community Center, without a stage. Playgrounds, outdoor eating areas, and walkways are partially complete. School construction and landscaping will be finished by Spring 2010 as the cooperative effort of the construction team continues.The name of the new school was announced at the Belmont Redwood Shores School District Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, December 10th. Sixty-two names were submitted by local citizens and school children. The name — Redwood Shores Elementary School ╤was chosen because it:
╨ Recognizes the hard work and generosity of Redwood Shores residents who made this school possible;
╨ Is a point of community pride;
╨ Recognizes the community╒s commitment to fund the construction and acquisition of the new school;
╨ Communicates the strength of a community working together;
╨ Is easily identifiable and unique; and,
╨ Allows flexibility for the school mascot.
The extended day care program provider will be announced by the school Board in January, 2010. The next meeting of the Measure C Bond Oversight Committee meeting is Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 6:30 pm at the San Mateo County Office of Education, 101 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood Shores. Members of the community are welcome!
Submitted by Lee Fernandez (Vice Chair) and Carole Wong (Chair), Measure C Bond Oversight Committee