Your Bond Dollars Are Building a Better Education! El Segundo Unified schools will soon receive improvements in the form of modernization, repairs and new construction as the district launches the first phase of projects under its $92 million school bond, Measure ES.
Dear ESUSD Parents and Community Members,
The bond measure, which passed in November 2018 with the approval of 63.32 percent of El Segundo voters, will upgrade classrooms, science labs, libraries, career training facilities and instructional technology to support student achievement in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. It will also improve student safety and provide for much needed repairs to aging facilities, roofs, and plumbing/electrical systems.
ESUSD successfully issued its first series of bonds on June 5, 2019. The Series A bonds generated $27 million in project proceeds, which will be used for Phase 1 upgrades to school facilities including fencing, secure entry vestibules, a library renovation at the high school, shade structures at the elementary schools, and a gymnasium and complete office modernization at El Segundo Middle School.
Facilities bond projects will be completed in phases according to ESUSD’s Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, which also accommodates a process for rephasing and rescoping if needs/priorities change. To meet our community’s expectations, the Board of Education has established the following objectives for the first year:
- Ensure that all ESUSD schools benefit from the passage of Measure ES in Phase 1.
- Strategically increase safety throughout the District.
- Positively impact classroom instruction District-wide.
- Systemically infuse high-impact visible change.
Our plan is to complete larger projects first to avoid escalation in construction costs. This first phase of projects will be completed over a three year period. Much of the design work began this year for Phase 1 improvements and significant construction is scheduled to start in summer 2020. The new gymnasium/multi-use building at ESMS is targeted to begin in fall of 2020. The following is a summary of the current projects moving forward:
Center Street School
- Shade Structures for outdoor areas – Timing: Construction planned for summer 2020.
Richmond Street School
- Shade Structure for kindergarten eating area – Timing: Construction planned for summer 2020.
- Security Vestibule at Administration – Timing: Construction planned for summer 2020.
El Segundo Middle School
- Perimeter Fencing – Designs are complete and approved. Timing: Will bid with other fencing projects.
- Security Vestibule at Administration – Timing: Construction planned for summer 2020.
- ESMS New Gymnasium Building –Timing: Construction planned for the beginning of fall 2020.
El Segundo High School
- Science Building HVAC Installation – Construction and installation completed. Troubleshooting final issues.
- Perimeter Fencing – New, safe ornamental fencing to complement high school building aesthetic; designs are complete and approved. Timing: Planned in phases during spring 2020.
- Security Vestibule at Administration – Timing: Construction planned summer 2020.
- Baseball Field Fencing Upgrades – Timing: Planned for summer 2020.
- North Gym Renovation – Timing: Planned for summer 2020.
- South Gym Upgrades – Timing: Planned for summer 2020.
- Library Modernization – Timing: Planned for summer 2020.
ESUSD
- New teacher workstations in every classroom – Completed.
- New furnishings at the Eagles’ Nest Preschool and Arena Virtual High School – project in progress.
- Audio/Visual improvements in every classroom – Timing: Planned for spring 2020.
Measure ES authorizes the district to issue $92 million in school bonds over a 10 year period, with the annual cost of 4.3 cents/$100 assessed value, $5,500,000 annually while bonds are outstanding.
The ESUSD Board of Education appointed a Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee at its January 2019 meeting. As outlined in Education Code Section 15278, the role of the El Segundo Unified School District Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee is to “inform the public concerning the District’s expenditure of revenues received from the sale of bonds authorized by the voters.” Members serve a term of two years, with a two-term maximum. The committee meets on a quarterly basis and members do not receive any compensation or benefits for their service.
Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee meetings are open to the public and the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m.in the ESUSD Board Room, located at 641 Sheldon Street, El Segundo, CA.
We know that keeping employees, parents and voters/community members informed of the milestones and progress on bond projects is important. In addition to my messages, the District plans to use a variety of communication methods for facilities updates including Town Hall Meetings, social media, and email bulletins, as well as posting updates on our website, where there is a “Measure ES” tab at the top of the homepage linking to all information related to the facilities bond.
Warmest Regards,
Melissa Moore, Ed.D.
Superintendent
El Segundo Unified School District