SPUSD: Voters will decide $34.6M bond measure for school improvements
February 03, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
With no public comment or discussion among themselves the Santa Paula Unified School Board agreed Thursday to place a $39.6 million bond measure for voters to decide in June to fund renovations to the district’s six elementary schools and Isbell Middle school.
The board voted 5-0 to put the bond measure — which requires that a minimum of 55 percent of voters approve it — on the June 7 ballot; in separate actions the board also approved establishing a Maintenance District and the establishment of a Facilities Improvement District, which would specify the areas that would be taxed under the proposed bond measure.
The boundaries reflect those of the old Santa Paula Elementary School District, which voters approved unification with the larger Santa Paula Union High School District in 2013.
Not subject to the bond measure tax — which would cost homeowners about $59 per $100,000 of accessed property value annually — are homeowners living in the Briggs, Mupu and Santa Clara (Little Red Schoolhouse) districts, which were not included in the unification.
The oldest school in the elementary school district is McKevett Elementary, built in 1910-1911, located on a square block fronted on Pleasant Street.
Other schools average 70 years old.
If approved by voters, the bond money would be used to construct new science labs and classrooms; establish new media and literary centers at each school such as the one unveiled last week at Glen City School; modernize classrooms, restrooms and other school facilities; replace leaky roofs; improve access to computers; upgrade outdated electrical and plumbing systems; and provide ventilation and air-conditioning, the latter a matter of concern during last year’s late waves of high unseasonal heat.
Upgrades would include technology, furniture and improvements to help the schools meet the standards of the new campus to be built at East Area 1. The new school could possibly open for the 2019-2020 school year; the district has not yet determined if it will serve elementary students or kindergarten through 8th grade.
Until the new school is completed existing schools would be welcoming students from the new development.
The bond measure would raise about 70 percent of the funding needed; developer fees, state funds and school district money to complete the improvements would supplement the bond.
There are several other local taxing measures that could be headed to the ballot but voters won’t have to decide a possible funding measure for public safety or a proposed transportation tax until November.
