Tag Archives: Bonds Measures

A Letter to the School Board

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 (This message was sent by the Redwood Shores Community Association to the Belmont-Redwood Shores School Board of Trustees on February 2, 2012.)

February 2, 2012

Superintendent Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri and

Members of the Belmont-Redwood Shores Board of Trustees

2960 Hallmark Dr

Belmont, CA 94002

 

I am writing at the direction of RSCA’s Board of Directors to address the School District’s plans for the use of the more than $8.7 Million in matching State grant funds recently awarded to the District.

As long time supporters of the School District, the Redwood Shores Community Association has a strong interest in how the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District plans to use funds provided by the State of California as a match to the bond funds raised for use in the Redwood Shores SFID by Measure C.

Given that:

  1. When the School District was unable to come up with funds to build the much-needed second elementary school in the Shores, a separate funding district (‘the Redwood Shores SFID’) was created, and Shores residents voted to approve Bond Measure C to provide $25 Million to purchase land and cover building costs for the new Redwood Shores Elementary School.
  2. Funding for land and construction of the new school was paid entirely by the residents of the Shores.
  3. The grant of State funds was to match funding for construction for the new school, again those Measure C bond funds provided entirely by the residents of the Shores.

Therefore we believe strongly that the matching State grant funds should be used ONLY for new construction or improvements at Redwood Shores Elementary and Sandpiper Elementary, or to pay off Measure C bonds.

In the past we asked the School District to provide relief to Shores taxpayers by paying off a portion of the Measure C bonds with matching funds not used for school projects in the Shores. We still favor this plan.

However, should the School District decide to retain the Measure C bond funds for present and future school projects, we feel quite strongly that those funds should be maintained solely for use in the Redwood Shores SFID (i.e., at Sandpiper Elementary or Redwood Shores Elementary).

We were surprised to read yesterday that the School District is planning to spend potentially millions of the Measure C matching dollars at Ralston Middle School, arguing that this would be acceptable because Shores students also attend Ralston. While this may be true, it is also true that the School District recently passed a bond measure within the entire School District (including the Shores) for those Ralston improvements. Rather than spending Measure C matching funds at Ralston, it would be more appropriate for the School District to apply for additional matching funds for Ralston based on the District-wide Ralston bond measure.

We can only hope that the School District will exercise its fiduciary responsibility in the use all bond and SFID Measure C matching funds both prudently and appropriately. You should expect that the support of RSCA and the Shores community for any future School District bond measures and/or parcel taxes will be quite dependent upon the District’s decision in this matter.

Sincerely,

Harris Rogers, President

270 Redwood Shores Parkway, PMB 205, Redwood City, CA 94065-1173

RSCA is a proud member of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce

BRSSD Measure C Citizens Bond Oversight Committee Update

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After nearly five years of effort, the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District Measure C Bond Oversight Committee had its last meeting on January 17, 2012. The committee was established by the Board of Trustees in 2007 according to State law to ensure that the $25 million in bonds authorized by the Shores community in Measure C (2005) was used solely for the construction of the Shores Elementary School. While the new school opened in August, 2010, expenditures finally came to an end in June, 2011.

The bond oversight committee has reviewed final expenditure reports and the independent financial and performance audits. It will advise the Board of Trustees at its meeting on February 2, 2012, that “to the best of its knowledge, the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District is in compliance with the requirements of the CA Constitution [and] bond revenue has been expended only for the purposes so described in Measure ‘C’.”

Copies of the final Annual Report to the Board of Trustees may be found on the District’s website http://brssd.org/oversightcommittees.html

Thanks to all who have faithfully and diligently served on the committee over the years!

— Respectfully submitted by Carole Wong (Chair), Measure C Bond Oversight Committee

President’s Message: March 2011

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Annual Meeting

A few weeks ago, RSCA hosted our Annual Meeting at the Redwood Shores Library. This is one of our most important regular events as it brings leaders and staff from Redwood City and the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District to the Shores to speak about issues that matter to us.

This year, about 100 community members attended and heard presentations from Mayor Jeff Ira and Council Member Jeff Gee on the state of the City and Redwood Shores and from Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri on the School District budget and developments at our Elementary and Middle schools. We also heard from Interim City Manager Bob Bell and Acting Police Chief Ed Hernandez. Their messages were similar — money is tight, and the city and schools will need to approach problems a bit more creatively than in the past. For example, Interim City Manager Bob Bell described how Redwood City is looking into performing some city functions with the help of a corps of volunteers (the Shores’ own Carole Wong is helping to launch this initiative).

While RSCA appreciates that the City needs to live within its budget, we also continue to advocate for basic City services in the Shores, which are our due. For example, we have been concerned for a while about the time needed by Police in Redwood City to respond to incidents in the Shores. Even though the Police Department has had some layoffs, we do not accept that this means that we should accept even slower response times. To the contrary, RSCA is going to continue to press for improved Police response times and coverage in the Shores, as would any City neighborhood. Similarly, we have over the past few months asked the City to replace the many burned-out street lights in the Shores and to smooth the rough spots on our Parkways that wreak havoc on our cars’ suspensions. I am happy to report that the City has recently embarked on a program to address both of these issues — which we appreciate.

Redwood Shores Elementary Matching Funds

Despite the prevailing financial mess, there was one good piece of news – from the School District. As you may have read in our local papers, and as reported by Dr. Orta-Camilleri at our Annual Meeting, it appears that the School District will be awarded $8.75M in matching funds from the State to be used on building projects at Redwood Shores Elementary School.

As a new school with state-of-the-art facilities, Redwood Shores Elementary certainly does not have $8.75 in needs to address. Accordingly, RSCA expects the District to use these funds prudently and transparently, and we specifically want the District to use a substantial portion of these matching funds to pay off some of the $25M in Measure C Bonds that we passed and are paying for with our property taxes. Further, if for some legal reason the District can’t use these funds to pay off Measure C bonds, we want to have a say — before the fact — in how the funds will be spent, to ensure that at least some of the projects will benefit the entire Shores community.

Welcome to the New Officers of RSCA

I have been honored to be President of RSCA for the past two years. It has been a busy and successful two years for RSCA and much of this success is due to your membership support and the outstanding RSCA Board I’ve been privileged to work with. At our February meeting the RSCA Board elected a new slate of officers who will continue to provide strong leadership of RSCA and advocacy for the Shores. Please join me in welcoming our new officers: Harris Rogers (President), Sue Nix (Vice President), Lynn Adams (Secretary) and Ian Gunderman (Treasurer). Godspeed!

— Doug Crisman , former RSCA President

News from Belmont-Redwood Shores School District

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Dear Community,

Measures I and N have passed! On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to express our gratitude for the support given to pass these critical bond measures that will mean so much for the needed repairs of our schools and facilities to house our growing student population. Currently, there are 3,207 students enrolled. This is an increase of 241 students over last year!

Measure I is the Ralston Middle School repair measure and passed with 65.21% “yes” votes approving the issuance of $25 million in bonds. Measure N (only in Belmont, west of Hwy 101) is the elementary school repair measure. It was passed by a 63.20% “yes” vote approving the issuance of $35 million in bonds.

The passage of both Measures I and N will enable the District to continue quality education and proactively prevent classroom overcrowding. Much needed repairs and replacement of leaking roofs will be taken care of as well as repairs to classrooms including constructing and/or acquisition of additional classrooms to house projected increases in student enrollment of about 150 students per year for the next three years. Funds are also needed to meet current fire/safety codes, improve disabled access, upgrade technology, to replace outdated electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and safety/security systems.

Both Measures I and N will have citizens’ oversight and no funds are to be used for administrator salaries.

If you are interested in getting involved in citizens’ bond oversight, are at least 18 years of age and not an employee, vendor, contractor, or consultant of the District, an application packet may be obtained from Nellie Hungerford (Assistant Superintendent Business Services and Operations) at district offices, 2960 Hallmark Drive, Belmont 94002 or by calling (650) 637-4800 ext. 1010 or emailing Nellie at .

Even in these challenging years of reduced funding, your work to provide for the housing and safety of our children is deeply appreciated. Together, we are “Creating the Future” — a better tomorrow — for the children in Belmont-Redwood Shores School District!

— Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri
— Superintendent, Belmont-Redwood Shores School District

Oversight Committee Update on the New Redwood Shores Elementary School

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On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, the Measure C Bond Oversight Committee held its regular quarterly meeting to review expenditures of the bond fund for the period ending March 31, 2010. Approximately $24 million (out of the revised budget of $25.5 million) has been expended or accrued to date. As previously reported in December, 2009, there is a funding deficit (projected to be $182K) which is a planned overrun related to the school board’s decision last October to construct two additional day care rooms for a not-to-exceed amount of $798K (using $615K of unallocated bond funds plus monies from the district’s Capital Facilities Fund 25). No issues were identified and the expenditures were accepted as presented.

The Bond Oversight Committee also met on Tuesday, May 18th, to prepare its Annual Report to the Board (as required by CA law) and delivered it on Thursday, June 3rd. The Committee found that, to the best of its knowledge, the District is in compliance with the requirements of the CA Constitution. In particular, bond revenue has been expended only for the purposes so described in Measure C (for construction of the new school). The full report is available on the District’s website ( http://brssd.org/oversightcommittees.html ).

Construction on the new school has been completed. Having passed all required inspections, the District officially “took possession”! However, the floor of the multi-purpose room will be replaced (at SKW Architects’ expense) as the wrong color was installed. Bullene Landscapes was selected as landscaper with a one-year contract. New sod has been laid with heavy watering until the lawns are well established. Furniture and technology equipment will be delivered in mid-July to early August!

So far, 250 K-4 students have been registered. The staffing list has been completed but is pending the Board’s decision about class size. The Redwood Shores Elementary School PTA met for the first time on May 5th with 80-100 charter members!

SAVE THE DATE: The Grand Opening will be on Sunday, August 15, 2010, from 11 am to 2 pm!

— Carole Wong (Chair), Measure C Bond Oversight Committee

President’s Message: June 2010

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I mentioned in my article last month that the Belmont Redwood Shores School Board has been considering a number of options for issuing bonds to address facilities issues (e.g., repairs and new classrooms) in the District, most of which are at the Belmont elementary schools and Ralston Middle School.

The School Board met on May 20 to discuss what sort of bond structure made the most sense in view of the District’s facilities needs and also had a good chance of being approved by the voters this November. Last month I described two of the options that were under consideration. Option 1 involved the issuance of District-wide bonds for $69M, which meant that taxpayers in Belmont and Redwood Shores would pay at the same rate ($27 per $100,000 Assessed Property Value) to fund the bonds, even though a very small amount of the funds would be spent in the Shores and we alone in Redwood Shores are already paying $30 per $100,000 APV for Redwood Shores Elementary. Option 2 was far more equitable as it involved the issuance of $58M in bonds in Belmont to fund projects at the Belmont elementary schools and half of Ralston’s needs, and $11M in bonds in Redwood Shores for small projects and maintenance at Sandpiper and the other half of Ralston’s needs. RSCA opposed Option 1 as inequitable, but supported Option 2 as being fair to the Shores.

I speak of these two options in the past tense as both were eliminated from consideration by the School Board at their May 20 meeting! It is a tribute to RSCA’s advocacy on this issue, and Shores residents who got involved by meeting with and writing to School Board Members and speaking at School Board and community meetings, that the Board recognized the inequity of Option 1 and decided to pursue a different course. On the other hand, the Board also ruled out Option 2 as it didn’t raise enough for the Belmont elementary schools. Instead of those choices, the Board decided to focus on a third option, Option 3.

Like Option 2, Option 3 involves two bonds. The first bond is a District-wide bond ($24.6M) that will provide $18M in funds for Ralston and $150K for the District Maintenance Building, and pay off around $6M in loans taken out by the School District to build the first phase of Sandpiper Elementary. (For more information on the history of Sandpiper, see the related article by Carole Wong inside this issue of The Pilot or go to www.rsca.org for a more detailed timeline of events.) This bond is projected to cost all District taxpayers approximately $10.68 per $100,000 APV. The second bond is a $49M bond for projects at the Belmont elementary schools to be paid for by Belmont taxpayers. Option 3 has not been formally adopted by the School Board (that should happen in early June) and the all-important language for the bond measure is still under development, so it would be premature to draw any conclusions at this point about Option 3. As we did with the levee issue, RSCA will monitor this evolving issue closely and communicate or take additional action depending on what we hear, our goal being a bond measure that addresses District needs and is fair and equitable for Redwood Shores residents.

— Doug Crisman , RSCA President

President’s Message: May 2010

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Books for Redwood Shores Elementary

As you probably know, Redwood Shores Elementary School (‘RSE’) will soon open its doors to students from Redwood Shores and Belmont Shores. RSE is a beautiful facility in an extraordinary setting that will enable our kids and their teachers to realize their full potential. We have this superb new school because in 2005 the voters of Redwood Shores passed $25M in bonds to build it.

RSE is a great facility, but it has some needs that can’t be paid for with bond proceeds. As a long time supporter of our schools, RSCA asked what we could do to help meet these needs. Cherie Ho, RSE’s new principal (and former Sandpiper and Nesbit principal) told us a high priority was financial support for the school’s library collection. We answered this need by pledging $10,000 for RSE’s opening day library collection, and up to an additional $10,000 as a one-to-one match for individual contributions towards the collection. We’ll provide more information on the match opportunity in future editions of the Pilot.

Another School Bond??!! . . . More Taxes??!!

With the opening of Redwood Shores Elementary, the long-standing over-enrollment crisis in the Shores will be at an end. It’s therefore ironic that Belmont is now experiencing overcrowding at its elementary schools and a need for increased classroom space. The Belmont elementary schools and Ralston Middle School are also in need of repairs due to the age of the buildings and deferred maintenance. To address these issues, the School District is preparing to float up to $69M (as of this date) in bonds for various facilities projects, almost entirely at its Belmont schools.

The projects that are likely to be funded are documented in the District’s Master Facilities Plan ($175 M total cost). Top priority projects total $69M, with ~ $49M (71%) going towards new classrooms and maintenance at the four Belmont elementary schools, and ~ $18M (26%) for similar projects at Ralston. Only ~ $2M (<3%) of the $69M total would go to the Shores (all to Sandpiper). In view of the lack of benefits flowing to Redwood Shores schools and that Shores taxpayers will pay nearly half of a District-wide bond (based on assessed property values), how the bonds are paid for is a critical matter.

The District is considering at least two funding options. Option 1 (as currently configured) involves the issuance of District-wide bonds for the entire $69M, which means that taxpayers in Belmont and Redwood Shores would pay at the same rate to fund the bonds (currently, $27 per $100,000 of APV). The RSCA Board objects to this option as inequitable to Shores taxpayers in view of the disparity in benefits and the fact that we would end up paying about the same for improvements at the Belmont elementary schools (around half of $49M) as we did to purchase the land and build Redwood Shores Elementary ($25M)! And, this would be on top of what we alone are paying for the RSE bonds ($30 per $100,000 of APV).

Option 2 (as currently configured) is far more equitable as it involves the issuance of $58M in bonds in Belmont to fund projects at the Belmont Schools elementary schools and half of Ralston’s needs, and $11M in bonds in Redwood Shores for minor maintenance at Sandpiper and the other half of Ralston’s needs. The RSCA Board thinks it is reasonable for Shores taxpayers to fund projects at Ralston since our kids go there for middle school.

Some people object to our position as selfish and hostile to the idea of Belmont and Redwood Shores being a unified school district. To them I respond that it was the District Board itself that divided the District in two so Shores taxpayers would shoulder the entire burden for RSE, with no payment by Belmont. Consequently, it’s only fair for the District to ask Belmont voters to step up and take care of their elementary school needs. Others have objected that the Shores should contribute to improvements at the Belmont elementary schools since Belmont paid for most of Sandpiper. This myth is unfounded in fact and will be debunked in an upcoming edition of the Pilot.

Let no one say that RSCA does not support our schools. We are long-time supporters of School Force and Save the Music. We gave generously to Sandpiper when it was opened. We will give generously to Redwood Shores Elementary. However, as advocates for Redwood Shores, we expect the Shores to be treated equitably by the District. We oppose Option 1 in its current configuration as inequitable. We do, though, support Option 2 as presently configured, which we believe is fair to the Shores. And because Option 2 IS fair, it is far more likely to pass and give the District what it needs to move forward with its facilities plans.

— Doug Crisman

New School Updates

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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