Community Message
November Ballot Will Ask Voters to Modernize their Local Schools
On November 8, 2022, voters within the Redwood City School District (RCSD) attendance zone will be asked to consider the next phase of the school district’s efforts to modernize the schools that serve Redwood City’s children.
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 for capital expenses and not for operating costs. This means that RCSD could not and will not use the funds 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 law is clear that bond funds may only be used on capital expenses that are expressed in the measure.
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 measure is clear that the bonds are for capital projects and those are listed in the bond project list.
The Specific Projects Measure S Could Fund as Part of Phase II as Identified by the Redwood City Community:
If approved by local voters, this measure would generate approximately $298 million to complete projects such as:
Repair and upgrade science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics classrooms and labs
Bring all schools up to the same learning and safety standards
The estimated cost for property owners would be limited to $24 per 100,000 of assessed (not market) value, or about 48 cents a day for the average homeowner.
Specifically, the measure would provide the funds needed for the Redwood City community to see the following improvements at their schools:
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
Phase I Improvements Complete:
RCSD undertook an extensive facilities master planning process in 2013-14, which identified more than $600 million in critical repairs and updates needed across the District. The next year, local voters approved Measure T with over 63% support. This bond measure covered a third of these identified needs and has allowed the completion of Phase I improvements, which were focused on critical safety and security updates.
Measure S: Local Funding to Address Phase II Improvements
Although much has been accomplished with the support of the community through Measure T, it was always known that the District needs exceeded the funding that Measure T provided. There is still $400 million dollars of identified repair and update needs that remain.
Dedicated funding is required to meet these needs and provide real world, hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics classroom instruction to all students across the school district.
To learn more about the district’s facility repair and modernization projects, community members are invited to visit the RCSD website.
Redwood City School District
Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net
Phone: 650.482.2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCitySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @RWCSchools