Work was recently completed on a re-roofing project at Mae Hensley Junior High School through funding from the voters’ passage of Measure Y last November.
The new roof on the 600 classroom wing is the first in a lineup of district-wide improvements made possible by the school bond. In addition to keeping classrooms dry, the new roof will create a more energy-efficient and comfortable learning environment.
Measure Y, which was termed the “Ceres Unified School District Campus Safety / Classroom Repair Measure,” authorized the issuance of $114 million in bonds to;
• Repair or upgrade Ceres elementary, middle, and high schools;
• Improve campus safety and security systems;
• Repair or replace leaky roofs;
• Upgrade outdated heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical systems;
• Repair or replace deteriorating portable classrooms;
• Update classroom equipment and learning technology.
Voters approved Measure Y with 66.35 percent to levy a $60 assessment per $100,000 of assessed property value annually for approximately 30 years. The tax bill for the median tax assessment value of $238,855 in Ceres would pay about $140 per year. Those with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay an extra $180 on their annual property tax bill.
CUSD’s comprehensive Facilities Master Plan identifies over $160 million in needed upgrades or repairs. The district noted that the state does not provide dedicated funding to districts for school upgrades and that local funding was needed.
District Superintendent Amy Peterman said the School Board will prioritize where the funds should be spent but the first set of projects planned will be replacing portable classrooms on campuses, including Carroll Fowler, Sam Vaughn, Virginia Parks, Mae Hensley, Ceres High School and Argus/Endeavor High.
The CUSD facilities master plan considers the needs of each campus, with the largest being $40 million for Ceres High School, including a new $10 million classroom wing to replace aging portables dating back to the 1980s. The campus also needs some classroom modernization. Another $6 million is calculated for Ceres High stadium improvements.
“We’ve got over $160 million worth of projects on a list for a $112 million bond so not everything will get done even if the bond passes. We’ll have to do different phases and then pick and choose which pieces of the different projects will be part of the bond.”
New classroom wings are also needed at a number of other campuses, including Carroll Fowler, Caswell, Don Pedro, Sam Vaughn, Virginia Parks, Westport elementary schools and Blaker Kinser and Mae Hensley junior high schools. New additions of offices and libraries are also on the list for the newer campuses of Patricia Kay Beaver, Hidahl and Berryhill campuses.
Peterman said that passage of the bond would mean the district would be in line for some matching funds from the state.
Property owners in CUSD are still paying assessments on Measure U passed by the voters in 2008. The last series of Measure U bonds were sold in 2017. Final repayment is 2051. The Measure U 2023-24 tax rate is $47.74 per $100,000 of assessed value.
Taxpayers are also still paying on 2001 Measure J bond which is expected to fall off in eight years. The 2023-24 tax rate is $38.27 per $100,000 of assessed value.
The assessments on the Measure Y bond issuance will fall off in 2057-58.
