After careful consideration, a survey of the community and a facilities master plan conducted by a consultant, the Rim of the World Unified School District’s board of trustees voted on June 27 to put Measure E on the November ballot.
The language on the ballot is as follows: “To improve school safety and security systems, repair/replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, heating, cooling/electrical systems, remove asbestos/lead pipes and upgrade, acquire, construct classrooms, facilities, sites/equipment to support college and career readiness in science, math, engineering, arts and skilled trades, shall Rim of the World Unified School District’s measure authorizing $71,000,000 bonds at legal rates be adopted, levying 3 cents per $100 assessed value while bonds are outstanding, with citizen oversight, audits and all money staying local.”
“This decision didn’t come lightly,” Dr. Paul Sevillano, the superintendent of the Rim schools, told the Lake Arrowhead Municipal Advisory Council at its Oct. 3 meeting. The district, he explained, conducted a poll on what the community would support in terms of a local tax.
That came back, he said, that $30 per $100,000 assessed value would be something the community would support.
People want to know, Dr. Sevillano acknowledged, what the district will spend the money on. “We hired a consultant to do a facilities master plan. Many of our schools have not been modernized in years. There is no air conditioning in our classrooms. Measure E would provide $71 million. We have identified $114 million in facility needs to bring our schools up to a standard we believe all students deserve.”
Why is air conditioning important? Safety and security are first and foremost. At the Lake Arrowhead MAC meeting, Captain Craig Harris of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station noted that they had done a site assessment at the schools a couple of years ago. “Having to keep the doors and windows open to get air in the classrooms is a security problem,” he said. “That is a huge reason to get this done.”
Dr. Sevillano also addressed closing the schools during the Line Fire. It was, he said, “an easy decision. We were the first district to close for a week and the last to reopen due to the impact on our communities.”
In addition to 30 percent of the district’s workforce residing in Running Springs – which was under a mandatory evacuation order – the flare ups after classes resumed created smoke issues in the schools, especially at Charles Hoffman Elementary School. They had to open doors and windows and ran air purifiers. They limited outdoor activities. They brought in an outside agency to test the air quality indoors. “We discovered it was safe to operate school,” he said, adding they monitored the air quality daily.
Under Cal/OSHA’s new heat index, Dr. Sevillano told the MAC, the district has had to develop a compliance plan. “We have to get students to cooler areas when the indoor temperatures reach 82 degrees,” he said. “But without air conditioning, that is a difficult task. We need a positive learning environment for our students.”
Measure E, the superintendent noted, will provide the district with $71 million. There are $42 million in HVAC needs alone; the facilities master plan revealed that the current electrical system will not support air conditioning.
What does Measure E mean for the average homeowner? It would cost about $1.53 a week or $81 a year.
In addition to Measure E, voters also have the opportunity to vote for Proposition 2 on the November ballot. This state construction bond would provide matching funds to modernize schools.
“A district that has gotten a bond approved can apply for some of these funds,” Dr. Sevillano said. “We believe we could get an additional $15 million.
“Our infrastructure on the mountain is more than 50 years old. There’s a lot of work that constantly needs to be done.”
For more information on why the funds that would be raised by Measure E are necessary, visit www.yesforrimschools.com.
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