Schools

The ins and outs of the school bond measure

Get the basic facts on the district's enrollment growth and upcoming bond measure

 

  • The Ross Valley School District – Brookside Elementary Upper and Lower Campuses, Manor Elementary, Wade Thomas Elementary and White Hill Middle School – has seen a 16 percent enrollment increase since 2006.
  • There are currently 1,986 kids in space for 1,800 students.
  • The district alleges that by 2016 enrollment will be closer to 2,300 and will be 30 percent over capacity by 2014.
  • Currently, multi-purpose rooms are being used for music and art, pushing out libraries or programs like on-site daycare.
  • In 2009 and 2010, the district went through an extensive community engagement process to decide how to address this enrollment growth.
  • A number of proposals were considered, including re-opening a K-5 school at Red Hill or Deer Park, purchasing a portion of the Marin Town and Country Club property for a new K-5 school, expanding the middle school to grades 5-8, adding a K-5 campus on the middle school property, purchasing other land to build a K-5 school or adding additional classrooms to existing campuses.
  • A bond measure was originally planned for June, but the district couldn't reach a decision by then.
  • Following heated debate, the majority of options were eliminated except for re-opening a K-5 school at Deer Park.
  • The outpouring of opposition from the Fairfax community, lead the school board to vote 3-2 not to build the school at Deer Park and to instead add classrooms to existing campuses.
  • A number of residents still support the idea of purchasing the School Street plaza and turning it into a K-5 school, which the district says isn't feasible within its budget.
  • A bond measure will be placed on the Nov. 2, 2010 ballot to fund the expansion of White Hill and the addition of classrooms to the current campuses.
  • The bond measure is expected to be around $41 million, but will be voted on on Aug 2.

 


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