Schools
Burrell Field, High School Pool Among First Bond Measure Projects to Go Forward
Voters passed the $50.1 million Measure M school bond in November.
The is moving forward with upgrading its fields, playgrounds and tracks using funds from Measure M, the $50 million "health and fitness" facilities bond approved by 63 percent of voters in the November election.
First on the list of projects are a complete makeover for , including new synthetic field turf, an all-weather track and new stadium bleachers, and a new swim center at .
Earlier this month the district posted a request for proposal for a program manager, who will help prepare a master plan and map out a timeline for implementing the projects. The deadline for submitting a proposal is Jan. 4, and the school board is expected to announce which firm it will work with at the Jan. 11 .
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"It was a grassroots effort," said Superintendent Cindy Cathey of the bond's success." (It was) the community coming together in difficult financial times and saying 'this is important.' "
Cathey and Assistant Superintendent Song Chin-Bendib will also provide a draft timeline at the January board meeting.
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Other projects will include repairing playground equipment at the elementary schools, building an outdoor classroom for each school, installing a par course at and upgrading 's track and sports field to match Bancroft's new synthetic field and all-weather track.
Cathey said, "The vision is that all projects would be completed within four years."
Jerry Engler, co-chair of the Yes of Measure M Committee, said it was in the district's economic interest to move fast on implementing the measure.
"Interest rates are so low that it will save the district money to get bonds floated sooner rather than later," Engler said.
Getting the San Leandro High School pool repaired was Engler's main motivation for promoting Measure M, he said.
"All of our kids swam at the pool so we wanted to see what we could do to save it."
The school district has had repeated meetings with the Alameda County Health Department in recent years about the lack of proper safety and sanitation standards at the high school pool, said Superintendent Cathey.
"It's been baindaids for a long time," she said, adding that the health department had threatened to shut down the pool if it wasn't fixed. The passage of Measure M was the pool's lifesaver.
Parents and community members will be invited to participate in a conceptual design team to plan out Measure M spending, similar to ones the district has formed for past projects such as the high school arts education center and the ninth-grade .
"They get together and talk about what's the design, what should it look like," Cathey said. The district will likely start advertising for team participants in February, she said.
If the district's fundraising abilities under Measure B, the previous school facilities bond, are any indicator, the Measure M funds could multiply. The district has already received about $25 million in matching funds from the state, with at least another $5 million on the way.
Measure M will build on the work already done under Measure B and help fulfill the board's goal of educating the whole child, including physically, which is especially given high child obesity and diabetes rates, said Cathey.
"Measure M, to me, is this beautiful merging of the concept of physical and then supporting that with actual facilities," she said.
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