November Ballot Includes Bond Measure to Fund Local Elementary School Modernization

The Redwood City School District (RCSD) Board of Trustees has placed Measure S, a school improvement bond measure, on the November 8, 2022 ballot. All voters within the District attendance zone  will receive a ballot in the mail in early October. 

The School Board’s Vote:

On August 10, during its regularly scheduled public meeting, the RCSD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt a resolution placing a school facilities bond measure, formally known as Measure S, on the November ballot.

The Purpose of the Funds:

If approved by local voters, the money raised by Measure S will only be used to fund updating and modernizing our school facilities, and not for operating costs. By law, no funds can be used for administrator or teacher salaries or benefits or the operation of instructional programs. An independent Citizens Oversight Committee and annual audits ensure funds are spent as voters intended.

The full ballot text is the complete statement of the measure that provides all of the detail to voters about Measure S. In addition, the pamphlet that voters will receive includes the following language:

No Operating Expenses. Proceeds from the sale of Bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities on the Bond Project List, including the furnishing and equipping of said school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for said school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher or administrator salaries and other school operating expenses in accordance with applicable law.

The Cost Of Measure S

The District’s best estimate of the average annual tax rate levy to fund this bond is $24 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value per year, or about 48 cents a day for the average homeowner. For more information on cost of the Measure, see the tax rate statement included in the ballot materials.

Potential Projects Measure S Could Fund as Part of Phase II as Identified by the Redwood City Community:

RCSD undertook an extensive facilities master planning process (FMP) in 2013-14, which identified over $600 million in repairs and updates for District schools. A copy of that plan may be found [insert link to FMP].  Although we have come far, based on the FMP completed in 2013-14, it was clear that facilities needs exceeded the funding that the 2015 bond measure provided. There is still $400 million dollars of identified repairs and updates that remain. 

If approved by local voters, Measure S would generate approximately $298 million to complete projects such as those in the following categories (a complete bond project list of potential projects to be funded by Measure S can be found [link to Registrar’s website with full text of measure]):

• Removing aging and unsafe portable buildings; 

• Renovating, reconstructing, replacing, updating, and/or equipping classrooms, labs, school libraries, and other facilities; 

• Replacing electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems, repairing and/or replacing deteriorating roofs and aging restrooms, and installing energy efficiency equipment and systems; 

• Improving school fire and earthquake safety; 

• Providing classroom intrusion alarms, safety locks on classroom doors, and exterior lighting for student safety, and upgrading emergency communications, security systems, and fencing; 

• Upgrading and/or providing additional school drop-off areas and parking lots; 

• Improving playgrounds, play areas, fields, and athletic spaces with updated equipment, fencing, lighting, backstops, and playing surfaces; 

• Creating dedicated classrooms for music, art, and performing arts; 

• Developing and constructing teacher/staff rental housing; 

• Acquiring land, relocating, rebuilding, and/or constructing interim and permanent District administrative office.

2013-14 Master Plan Unfunded Projects Remaining:

Phase 1 projects were completed on time and within budget, however Measure T was never intended to address all of the needs in RCSD schools. With over $400 million in needs remaining from the Master Plan, plus additional, priority needs identified since 2014, Measure S is intended to help complete Phase II improvements. Projects remaining in the Master Plan include the following listed below. These projects, along with other, more recently identified projects will be reviewed with community input if Measure S passes in order to prioritize the next projects. 

Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School:

• New Construction, 2-Story – 18 Classroom Building 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (4) 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardscape 

• Modernization, STEAM Classroom 

• Modernization, Physical Education Improvements 

• Modernization, Student Collaboration and Student Support 

Total: $28,950,419

Clifford School:

• New Construction, 2-story - 4 classrooms and auxiliary rooms 

• New Construction, New Entrance and Support Staff 

• New Construction, Student Collaboration and Student Support Services 

Total: $18,187,692

Garfield School:

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (2) 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardcourts 

• Modernization, Physical Education Improvements 

Total: $5,946,309

Henry Ford School:

• New Construction, 2-story, 10 Classroom Building 

• New Construction, 2-story, 8 Classroom Building 

• New Construction, Remove Building B (10 -14), Install Lunch Shelter and Learning Quad 

• New Construction, 2 Child Care Portables, Shade Structure and TK/K Play Structure 

• New Construction, New Entrance 

• Modernization, Convert 2 Classrooms to Faculty Lounge and Faculty Workroom 

• Modernization, Convert 2 Classrooms into Steam Rooms 

Total: $28,860,295

Hoover School:

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (4) 

• Modernization, STEAM Classrooms (2)

• Modernization, New Entrance and Staff Support 

Total: $8,372,420

Kennedy Middle School:

• New Construction, Physical Education Building 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (4) 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardscape 

• New Construction, Classrooms 2 

• Modernization, Additional Science Labs 

Total: $18,904,764

McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT):

• New Construction, 2-Story Classrooms (8) STEAM, Library, Science Labs and Electives 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quad 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardscape

• Modernization, Physical Education Improvements 

• Modernization, Student Collaboration and Student Support 

Total: $23,526,045

District Shared Theater:

• New Construction, New Exterior Entry Court and Expanded Parking 

• Modernization, Auditorium Upgrades

Total: $6,490,462

North Star Academy:

• New Construction, Site Utilities 

• New Construction, 2-Story - 10 Classrooms and Administrative Support 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (1) 

• Modernization, STEAM Classrooms 

• Modernization, Student Collaboration and Student Support 

Total: $18,794,130

Orion Alternative School

• New Construction, Family Center 

• New Construction, 2 Child Care Portables 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (2) 

• New Construction, Playfields and Hardcourts 

• Modernization, Performing Arts Improvements 

• Modernization, Student Collaboration and Student Support

Total: $3,156,475

Roosevelt School:

• New Construction, 2-Story – 5 Classroom Building w/STEAM 

• New Construction, Family Center 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (1) 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardscape 

• Modernization, Physical Education Improvements 

Total: $17,553,251

Roy Cloud School:

• New Construction, 2–Story – 12 Classroom Building w/STEAM 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (4) 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardscape 

• Modernization, Physical Education Improvements 

Total: $22,709,793

Taft School:

• New Construction, 2 Child Development Center (CDC) Portables 

• New Construction, Outdoor Learning Quads (3) 

• New Construction, Exterior Play Spaces and Hardcourts 

• Modernization, Physical Education Improvements 

Total: $12,931,151

Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation and Warehouse:

• New Construction, New Main Office & Support Building, Facilities and Transportation 

• Central Kitchen 

Total: $22,955,225

Learn more about the district's facility repair and modernization projects.