Superintendent answers questions about Measure M projects
–On Friday, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees will tour the several sites where Measure M construction projects are planned or are already in progress. The public is welcome to join, with masks and 6-ft distancing. See schedule below. On Saturday, the trustees will meet to review and plan the projects.
Measure M is a $95 million general obligation bond for school improvements that was passed by voters in the November 8, 2016 election.
According to Superintendent Curt Dubost, several concerns have been expressed about Measure M Projects and the 7/11 Committee recommendations. Dubost answers some of the frequently asked questions:
Curt Dubost. Courtesy photo.
Q: Must all projects listed on the Measure M ballot approved by the voters be completed?
A: No. The fact that a project was on the ballot does not mean it must be completed, but only projects on the ballot can be completed. The Citizens Oversight Committee exists solely to assure all projects have been specifically authorized by the voters. The Board retains the authority to complete some projects but not others that were on the ballot; they just can’t add anything not on the ballot.
Q: What is a 7/11 Committee?
A: The 7/11 Committee is so named simply because it must have a minimum of seven and a maximum of eleven members. It is required by law whenever the Board is considering disposing of (selling) any district real property, and it makes a recommendation to the Board. The committee’s sole responsibility is to determine if the property is, in fact, surplus. The committee is not intended to weigh all variables and makes solely objective determinations based on objective data. The two properties the committee recommended for sale are the Montebello and Whitley Gardens parcels.
Q: I’m told the 7/11 Committee didn’t include a broad enough range of members to reflect accurately the district’s population let alone that of Georgia Brown. Doesn’t this make it impossible or illegal to use with regard to the closure of any school, let alone Georgia Brown?
A: The 7/11 Committee’s role was to examine and make a recommendation regarding unused sites. As part of their research, they explored the impact on the District’s finances of declining enrollment. Their additional recommendation was to declare one unnamed elementary site as surplus and in a separate vote identified Georgia Brown as the recommended site for closure. Remember, a 7/11 committee is required ONLY if a school property is to be sold; hence the current report allows the two vacant parcels mentioned above to be sold. Any decision on whether to close a school property will be made by the Board of Trustees. No such decision has yet been discussed, let alone voted upon.
Q: Why would you consider closing a site with all the new growth approved to the East?
A: The studies we commissioned found that (largely due to high prices) both projected new homes and rentals will likely not be affordable for young families with kids. Therefore, the enrollment projection is flat to slightly upward over the next ten years. If a significant subdivision were to be added in Paso Robles, the developers would need to mitigate any growth. Apart from Georgia Brown which is over capacity, we currently have excess capacity for an additional 700+ students in the five other elementary schools. Additionally, a new public charter school under construction on Niblick will have capacity of over 500 students. District enrollment peaked about fifteen years ago at 6,900 students and has never been above 7,000. It is currently 6,550.
Q: Why would you even consider closing the Dual Immersion campus when it is so very successful?
A: We aren’t. IN NO SCENARIO IS THE DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM DISCONTINUED. The current campus is far too small with an inadequate MPR and lunch space. Kids must cycle through three lunch periods starting in the morning and lasting into the afternoon. The Board will take this into account in determining how to maintain this popular program and provide students with facilities that meet their needs.
Q: The existing Georgia Brown campus can be repaired with the $14 million approved in Measure M. Why not just do that?
A: Unfortunately, our current estimates show the cost to make Georgia Brown what it would need to be with an MPR and all needed repairs would cost way beyond $14 million, and it would still be on the smallest site without adequate field areas.
On Friday, the Board will tour the various sites where Measure M construction projects are planned or are already in progress. The public is welcome to join, with masks and 6-ft distancing.
Friday, March 12, 2021
11:00 a.m. Virginia Peterson
11:30 a.m. Winifred Pifer
12:00 p.m. Daniel Lewis
12:30 p.m. Pat Butler
1:00 p.m. Bauer Speck
1:30 p.m. Flamson
2:00 p.m. Georgia Brown
3:00 p.m. Kermit King
Then Saturday, March 13, the Board will reconvene in the Board Room for a Study Session. (Study Sessions allow the Board to focus and learn about a particular topic without taking action.) This meeting may be accessed virtually (English or Spanish). The agenda for that meeting is:
• Measure M Bond Projects Update
• Measure M Budget Update
• 7-11 Committee – Next Steps
• Citizens’ Oversight Committee
• Architectural Services
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