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School Facility Improvement Project 2022 FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this process all about?
- What are the School District’s most critical needs?
- How will this effort improve instruction?
- How are PUSD school facilities improvements funded?
- Why is teacher retention important and will a potential bond measure help?
- How can we be assured that the potential bond money would be spent properly?
- Isn’t there a facilities budget for ongoing school maintenance?
- Doesn’t the STATE provide funding for facility upgrades?
- Wasn’t the Lottery or Proposition 30 supposed to fix our schools?
- I don’t have children or they are grown and gone. Why should I pay attention to this process?
- How does Pleasanton USD’s current bond tax rate compare with other districts in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, & Santa Clara Counties?
- What about Measure I1? Weren’t they supposed to fix our schools?
- How does equity factor into the need for a school facilities bond?
- Will businesses share in the cost of a potential bond measure?
- What is a Proposition 39 school bond measure and what can it pay for?
- If voters approve the bond, when will the work begin?
- Does the District have a Facilities Master Plan?
- Who makes the final decision on a local school bond?
- How much will this cost me?
- Where can I go for more information?
What is this process all about?
Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) schools serve an essential community need. As the local provider of Transitional Kindergarten through 12th Grade (TK-12) public education, we believe all students deserve to learn in quality classrooms and school facilities. We have two key priorities: first, to ensure academic success for every student attending one of our schools; and second, to make sure that our school facilities and school grounds are safe, secure, modern, and equipped to provide the best educational environment possible.
What are the School District’s most critical needs?
- RETAINING high-quality teachers by maintaining modern school classrooms and facilities.
- ENSURING school drinking water remains safe.
- KEEPING school equipment, facilities, and classrooms safe and well maintained to provide the best educational environment possible.
- CONTINUING repairs to deteriorating plumbing, roofs, outdated electrical wiring, and HVAC.
- PROVIDING access to modern science labs for all middle and high school students.
- MODERNIZING classrooms for career technical education and workforce development programs.
- MAKING classrooms and school facilities safe and accessible for students, including those with disabilities.
- IMPROVING physical education areas/ classrooms, play equipment, performing arts, kitchens, and multi-use facilities for student health, safety, and well-being.
- PROVIDING quality classrooms and facilities for our youngest learners in transitional kindergarten and improving alternative high school facilities.
How will this effort improve instruction?
Safe, modern school facilities are essential to maintaining the quality of education in our local TK-12 schools. There’s a direct relationship between quality school facilities and student achievement. Studies show that children and teachers perform best in safe, modern classrooms and schools with up-to-date technology.
How are PUSD school facilities improvements funded?
Our school district makes every effort to use resources wisely. With limited help from the State and our school facility and technology needs growing every day, we need to work together as a community to protect our local quality of education. Our current list of facility needs, far exceeds our available allotment for school facilities maintenance. PUSD has been exploring all available solutions to meet these needs — including State matching funds, private grants, and a local school bond. School bonds are the established and most common way to fund the upgrades our schools need.
Why is teacher retention important and will a potential bond measure help?
This measure will ensure that PUSD can retain and attract quality teachers to improve teaching and learning. By upgrading classrooms and learning technology, the best teachers will want to teach at our local public schools because classrooms will be up-to-date and have greater access to new technology to support 21st century instructional needs.
How can we be assured that the potential bond money would be spent properly?
Any potential bond approved by voters will require TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS. All funds raised would stay local to support Pleasanton USD school facility and technology improvements. These funds cannot be taken by the State or spent on administrators' salaries. An Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee is required to ensure funds are spent properly
Isn’t there a facilities budget for ongoing school maintenance?
District staff continue to invest and work hard to maintain our elementary, middle, and high school facilities, and keep them in good working condition with limited resources. However, the reality is that the types of repairs and renovations that our current needs assessment has identified go beyond the scope and means of regular school maintenance budgets.
Doesn’t the STATE provide funding for facility upgrades?
Very little. In general, new funds provided by the State are for instructional programs, NOT capital improvements. The State Budget does include some new monies for OPSC (Capital Projects) to fund the huge backlog of projects on a matching basis, but we cannot count on this uncertain source of funding. Moreover, in order to access state funding, school districts MUST generate local matching funds by passing a local school bond measure. Passing a local bond is the ONLY way to qualify for additional state funding if and when it becomes available. There are no other sources of funding for major facility upgrades.
Wasn’t the Lottery or Proposition 30 supposed to fix our schools?
Unfortunately, restricted Lottery funds can only be used for classroom instruction, not technology or facility upgrades. Moreover, the money our school district receives from the Lottery each year comprises less than 1.6% of our annual General Fund Budget. Lottery funds alone cannot fund the extensive upgrades that our schools need.
I don’t have children or they are grown and gone. Why should I pay attention to this process?
Good schools are the foundation of any healthy, thriving community. Good schools make our neighborhoods desirable places to live and support our property values. Home resale values will benefit as our neighborhood schools are improved. The longer we wait to complete needed upgrades, the more expensive they will become.
How does Pleasanton USD’s current bond tax rate compare with other districts in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, & Santa Clara Counties?
While consistently ranked as one of the top school districts in the county and Bay Area, Pleasanton Unified School District has one of the lowest bond tax rates in the Bay Area.
District | Bond Tax Rate Per Year |
---|---|
Dublin USD | $196.40 |
San Leandro USD | $173.20 |
New Haven USD | $153.80 |
Oakland USD | $120.20 |
Hayward USD | $115.00 |
Castro Valley USD | $97.00 |
San Ramon Valley USD | $75.00 |
Livermore Valley JUSD | $70.60 |
Sunol USD | $52.10 |
Pleasanton USD | $43.50 |
What about Measure I1? Weren’t they supposed to fix our schools?
Even with Measure I1 funding, our public TK-12 school facilities still need attention. Passage of Measure I1 in 2016 was the first step in a comprehensive effort to upgrade outdated and deteriorating Pleasanton elementary, middle, and high school facilities. Thanks to the generosity of our community, local children are now benefiting from improved school facilities to help prepare them for success in high school, college, careers, and in life. Measure I1 has completed several projects including roof and HVAC repairs, solar installations, and fencing and security upgrades. However, Measure I1 funds will not be enough to ensure upgrades and repairs to all schools in our district and we still have over a billion dollars in unmet facility needs, including: aging roofing, plumbing, and electrical systems, ensuring safe drinking water, modernizing classrooms for career and technical training, and retaining high-quality teachers for our students. Older schools need upgrades to meet the same academic and safety standards as newer schools to support academic achievement for ALL the District’s students.
How does equity factor into the need for a school facilities bond?
Measure I1 (2016) and Measure B (1997) enabled the District to repair and upgrade many —but not all — old classrooms, and science and technology labs. This measure will help the District make similar improvements at all schools so students throughout Pleasanton have access to modern educational facilities.
Will businesses share in the cost of a potential bond measure?
What is a Proposition 39 school bond measure and what can it pay for?
A Proposition 39 school bond measure can ONLY be used to fund school facility and technology improvements. A Proposition 39 school bond requires 55% voter approval to pass. Proposition 39 school bonds prohibit the use of the funds for operations, administrator salaries, or pensions and also requires independent financial and performance audits on the use of bond proceeds. No revenue generated by a local bond can be taken away by the State. All revenue stays local to benefit our local schools and students.
If voters approve the bond, when will the work begin?
Does the District have a Facilities Master Plan?
Yes. Facilities assessment and planning continues to be a top priority in planning for student success. https://lpamasterplans.com/pleasanton-usd-fmp/
Our Long-Range Facilities Master Plan (FMP) is continually updated to identify and confirm the needs at every school site. Every PUSD school has facility improvement needs that require attention. Our goal is to address individual school needs while also striving to achieve equity among all school sites so ALL local public schools provide the same quality education.
Who makes the final decision on a local school bond?
How much will this cost me?
No decisions have been made yet. A $395 million bond translates to about $49 dollars per year for every $100,000 of assessed valuation for property owners. The assessed valuation refers to taxable value, not the market value of your home. The taxable value of your home or business will depend on when you purchased it. If the bond is approved, the typical homeowner in our school district will pay about $401.35 a year, or $33.45 a month.
Where can I go for more information?
For more information, visit us at pleasantonusd.net OR call us at (925) 462-5500.