$80M bond measure to upgrade Merced schools is on the ballot this election. What it would do

Merced County voters will ultimately decide the fate of an $80 million bond measure to upgrade schools when they cast their ballots at the Nov. 5 election.

In June, the Merced City School District School Board voted 4-0 in favor of Measure O securing its place on the November ballot.

According to the district, the bond would go toward updating all 18 Merced City School District schools over the next decade, by improving things such as classroom technology, safety, and overall modernization of the schools.

In 2014, voters approved Measure M, a $60 million school facilities bond, which was intended to address the needs of the district’s aging schools. After securing an additional $19 million in state school facilities funds, the district said it is scheduled to complete those projects in 2025.

According to the district’s Long Range Facilities Master Plan released in March, overall projected enrollment is expected to stay stable over the next six years with a less than 1% decline. According to the same plan, 30% of the elementary classrooms in the district comprise of portable construction.

According to Bryan Behn, director of facilities for the district, the plan started when the district adopted the board approved Edcutaion Specifications and Building Standards last October, as the district looked to develop premier educational facilities. A team of architects and engineers were called upon to assess school sites throughout the district. Following the the assessment, a Long-Range Facilities Master Plan was was created identifying more than $860 million in projects that will bring the district facilities to the level it aspires to reach.

Throughout the process the district sought feedback from the community, students and staff through community meetings and polls.

“One of the features that makes a lot of sense is the community wants us to do projects that are going to improve the feeling of safety or actual safety in school campuses,” said Behn.

This has led the district to look at implementing emergency exit gates on campuses district wide, that are able to be unlocked by the push of a button in the event of an emergency. According to Behn, that would allow students to exit without having to wait for someone to be physically present to unlock a padlock style lock on the gates. Additional security camera’s on campuses and efforts to make officers more secure in an effort to prevent people from being able to walk through an office to gain access to campus.

Behn said the proposed $80 million bond would also be leveraged against state funds for modernization projects, with the district eligible for about $68 million from the State of California for modernization funds. In order for the district to access those funds, it must meet as specific percentage for local matching, according to Behn.

This would result in the state covering 60% of the costs up to the amount in which the district is eligible, and the district would be required to come up with the additional 40% of funding. If passed, the district would be able to leverage the Measure O funds against the state funds, which could result in the state matching the district’s contributions by 150% for eligible projects.

“We’re actually investing in the community,” Behn said. “We’re investing in community development and better neighborhoods and just a lot more resources here for everybody in town.”

The Measure O Bond will require a 55% yes vote to pass.

This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.