Construction Bond - November 7, 2006

Overview

Central Valley School District voters will again be asked to consider financing a construction bond to build new schools and modernize existing schools across the 80-square-mile district. A similar construction bond failed to gather the 60 percent voter approval needed to pass in March 2006. Although the projects included in the November 2006 bond proposal are nearly identical to the previous bond, the cost to taxpayers has increased. The November 2006 bond amount is $75.7 million, reflecting an active construction market that has helped fuel dramatic construction cost increases.

Bond Proposal - Major Projects

The proposed $75.75 million bond would fund four major construction projects and set the stage for state financial aid to complete additional work on seven aging schools.

Build New Elementary School --  $17,291,000
• Located in eastern part of district (Mission & Holl) to serve Greenacres attendance area
• Student capacity of 550 with provision for future expansion of building
• Based on design of Liberty Lake Elementary
• Opens in fall 2008

Build New Middle School  --  $28,980,000
• Located in eastern part of district (Boone & Oromond) to relieve enrollment pressure on Greenacres Middle School
• Student capacity of 550 with provision for future expansion of building
• May house some elementary students if needed
• Opens in fall 2009

Modernize Opportunity Elementary --  $13,836,000
• Complete modernization of existing facility, originally built in 1968
• Add two classrooms to expand capacity to house students
• Eligible for partial state reimbursement of construction costs
• Opens in fall 2009

Modernize Ponderosa Elementary --  $15,650,000
• Complete modernization of existing facility, originally built in 1979
• Reconfigure interior spaces to support today’s instructional programs
• Eligible for partial state reimbursement of construction costs
• Open in fall 2009   

TOTAL NOVEMBER 2006 CONSTRUCTION BOND PROPOSAL:  $75,757,000

Bond Proposal - Additional Projects

Although voters will not be asked to pay directly for the following projects as part of the construction bond, completion of these projects is contingent on voter support of the November 2006 bond and state reimbursement. The following projects would be partially funded with state reimbursement received for the modernization of Opportunity Elementary and Ponderosa Elementary.

Modernize Greenacres Elementary
• Complete modernization of existing facility, originally built in 1978
• Reconfigure interior spaces to support today’s instructional programs
• Eligible for partial state reimbursement of construction costs
• Open in fall 2010 

Miscellaneous Improvements to Six Schools
• Upgrades to Broadway, Chester, Progress, Sunrise and University Elementary schools and Barker High School and Learning Center (formerly Summit School)
• Ventilation, technology upgrades, parking improvements
• Funded with state aid remaining from Greenacres Elementary modernization and/or other resources as directed by the School Board.
• Completion dates vary: fall 2007 or later, depending on availability of financial resources

For more information, call the Public Information Office at 228-5405.