Letter: Measure M, a promise kept for Paso Robles students
To the editor,
– In 2016, Paso Robles voters approved Measure M, a $95 million facilities bond to modernize our aging schools. As the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, I want to share the facts: Measure M has been a transparent success, with every dollar staying local and going directly toward facilities—never administrator salaries.
Our progress was validated by an independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, which reviewed all expenditures for compliance. To date, the District has completed 21 of 22 planned projects, spending 96.6% of funds on a timeline set for full completion by November 2026.
The results are visible across our community. We built the Marie Bauer Early Education Center, an inclusive preschool producing remarkable outcomes for students with disabilities. We delivered the Paso Robles High School Aquatics Center, a facility that required navigating complex budget and pandemic hurdles to finally provide a top-tier resource for our student-athletes. At Glen Speck Elementary, we replaced outdated facilities with a state-of-the-art 28,000-square-foot campus, a transformation that helped the school earn a prestigious state Community Schools grant.
Beyond these headlines, Measure M funded critical, districtwide infrastructure. From new HVAC systems and roofs at Pat Butler and Virginia Peterson to a 10-classroom building at Lewis Flamson Junior High, we addressed the “invisible” liabilities—leaks, unsafe walkways, and failing cooling systems—that impact daily learning. We even added inclusive play structures to ensure every student, regardless of ability, has a space to thrive.
Measure M was more than a bond; it was a commitment to our children’s future. By modernizing our schools and maintaining strict accountability, we have fulfilled the promise made to voters a decade ago. Our students now have the safe, modern environments they deserve, proving that Paso Robles honors its investments in education.
Sincerely,
Brad Pawlowski
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
Paso Robles Joint Unified School District
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