Poway Unified School District's trustees begin the possibility of a bond number that would help collect donations for an estimated 1.78 billion US dollar for the necessary facilities.
The trustees rejected their options for a bond for the facilities with a range of around 400 to 600 million US dollars at a workshop on Monday. You are expected to discuss the concept at your regular board meeting on Thursday, October 9th.
During the meeting, it is expected to discuss an agreement with a consultant who is researched by the feasibility of a bond measure.
The larger facilities of the district include replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HLanc) at the Rancho Bernardo High School and the Bernardo Heights Middle School at an estimated price of $ 28 million. Steps are taken to finance $ 22 million of the “Chiller” project costs for a water-cooled chiller system that both schools operate.
The district plans to issue 8 million US dollars for postponed maintenance and part of 5.2 million US dollars, which is available for the Chiller project through developer fees. The district can also apply for funding from the state school building program, although the process can last more than a year.
Further costly improvements to the facilities are the renovation of four high school theaters, said the trustee Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff. According to an employee report, DEL Norte, Mt. Carmel, Rancho Bernardo and Westview High School's Visual and Performing Arts Theater are made.
O'Connor-Ratcliff said in the workshop that it is disappointed that the financing for art and music programs in the district has decreased, even though trustees have campaigned for the programs. The school authority approved the expenditure of 5.3 million US dollars or 1.3 million US dollars for every theater to improve it, but the amount has dropped over time, she said.
“Every delay has a negative impact on the students,” she said, adding that she wanted to visit the theater with the superintendent to review improvements in steps, lighting and sound systems. “It is valuable for the students to have real applications (in lighting, sound and projection). I hope to be satisfied with the finished projects. It is great what is being done, but I have concerns.”
Additional requirements for the facilities include replacing and renovating roofs, floors, playgrounds, color and stucco in the entire district, although the HLK systems are some of the most expensive maintenance needs, according to the employees.
Eric Dill, deputy superintendent for Business Support Services, first take into account the highest project needs, including critical and urgent projects that obtain cost estimates and then match the projects with the financing of sources to determine which projects are completed first.
During the workshop on Monday, the consultants Timothy McLarney from True North Research and Jared Boigon from Team Civx discussed the steps that are connected to the preparation of a binding measure for the ballot.
The proposal on November 3, 2026 would determine the proposal for the general election bonds with the greatest needs of the facilities with the highest probability of approval of the voters, they said in the workshop. The choice of next year also gives the district time to write the proposal for the ballot and to communicate the plan for improvements to the public facilities.
The voting slip would be 400 to 600 million US dollars instead of the full 1.78 billion dollars, the consultants said. The steps in preparation for an election include the implementation of voter surveys, communication with mailers and the search for feedback and the development of a voting table resolution with an election question that the voters can approved.
McLarney, President of True North Research, said the trustees can decide at the end of July or early August whether they would like to bond on the ballot. As soon as the proposal is on the ballot, it cannot be changed, the consultants said.
The elections in November 2026 are preferred compared to primary studies on June 2, 2026, since the parliamentary elections tend to have a major turnout.
“They have their priorities and the voters have their priorities,” said McLarney. “We will look at where you overlap. I cannot imagine a single measure that was approved by the sale of voters to what you don't want. It's about finding out what your priorities are and comparing your ballot paper with it.”
Employees and trustees are looking for other sources of furnishing financing by increasing the rental fees for district facilities used by companies, non -profit organizations and community groups, said Dill. In the future, the fees could be adjusted annually to take inflation and other factors into account, he said.
In 2023-24, the facilities of the district, including sports fields and theater, were rented for around 76,000 hours, which generated sales of $ 1.2 million, said Dill. The fees should pay for the operation and the overhead costs in addition to the payment of these facilities for wearing for these facilities, he added.
The trustee Tim Dougherty suggested that there is the opportunity to rent unused fields, especially at primary schools.
“If we increase rental prices, there will be an expectation of a higher service level on the basis of these rent stands,” said Dougherty.
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