The community of San Marino is invited to the Board of Education's next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 6:30 (note new time) in the District's Board room at 1665 West Drive, San Marino. For the convenience of those planning to attend the Board meeting, while the Board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., agenda items relating to a possible facilities bond will begin around 7:30 p.m. Click here to view the full meeting agenda.
Proposed resolution ordering an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds
There will be a presentation and second reading of a proposed bond resolution for the Board's consideration. As explained in previous Board President Updates, in September the Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) unanimously recommended that the Board pursue a capital facilities program to address the District's aging facilities needs and to improve student safety in San Marino schools. As explained in the August 21, 2019 Board communication (Public School Facility Financing), the state of California expects school districts to provide the funds necessary to finance local school facility modernization and construction. Given the significant facilities needs identified by the FAC after its months-long review and analysis, the Board is considering putting a general obligation bond on the ballot in an upcoming election in order to obtain the funds to repair and upgrade aging and inadequate facilities and to improve student safety and educational excellence.
Before a general obligation bond can be put on the ballot for the community to vote whether it wants to financially support a capital facilities program to address the District's facilities needs, the Board must approve a bond resolution. At its October 22, 2019 meeting, the Board heard a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson regarding different options of bond amounts and election timing. After discussion, the Board voted 3-1 to direct the Superintendent and staff to come back to the Board meeting on November 12, 2019, with a proposed bond resolution for a March 2020 election with a recommended bond amount that does not exceed $200 million and that incorporates further review and analysis of the costs associated with the projects identified in the FAC's recommended project list.
In order to inform the greater community about the District's facilities needs and obtain community input, since October 17th there have been five Town Halls and a tour of several school sites. Participants in these various forums were able to ask questions of experts and provide feedback. The Board has also received community input through ThoughtExchange, an online community engagement tool.
At the November 12 meeting, the Board will hear from Superintendent Wilson about recommended options for Board consideration based on further research and analysis of project costs and discussions with the Facilities Advisory Committee. The Board will hear a second reading of the proposed bond resolution, and, after Board discussion, if a decision is made to move forward with a facilities bond, the Board will determine the proposed bond amount and the election date before final approval.
By way of explanation, a proposed project list is a required part of the bond resolution, and it contains a general description of many different potential projects reviewed and recommended by the FAC. Because only those projects that are identified on the project list can be included as part of the bond resolution, all possible and potential projects are listed. Inclusion of a project on the project list does not mean that the project will actually be chosen, and the order of listed projects within each priority tier does not indicate priority for funding or completion. If the bond is approved, the mandated Citizens Oversight Committee will ensure compliance with the project list and oversee financial accountability for the bond funds.
The Board will also hear presentations and take action on the following subject matters:
The Board will hear presentations on the following subject matters:
- Health insurance (The District contracts for employee health and welfare insurance through a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), and representatives for the JPA will provide information about policies, programs and rates)
- College acceptance data (The Board will hear information about SMHS students' college choices over the past five years)
- Special education program and budget data (The Board will hear information about special education programs and costs)
The Board encourages the community to attend and provide public comment on these important agenda items.
Lisa Link
President, SMUSD Board of Education
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