A number of construction projects are underway to improve Ceres school campuses using the bond proceeds approved by voters of the Ceres Unified School District in November 2024.
Measure Y, 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. The work includes replacing roofs, improving campus safety and security systems, upgrading outdated heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical systems and repairing or replacing deteriorating portable classrooms. The funds also are used to update classroom equipment and learning technology.
At Ceres High School, work is underway to fully renovate classrooms 1-16 with new electrical systems and LED lighting, upgraded classroom technology, and new walls, whiteboards, floors, and ceilings. The work is expected to be completed in December.
Ceres High School will also be getting a two-story 10-classroom building to be constructed between the student parking lot and the tennis courts. Plans are being reviewed at the state level and groundbreaking is expected to take place in August. The project is expected to cost $13 million.
The district broke ground on an eight-classroom addition at Virginia Parks Elementary School that will replace aging portable classrooms. Phase 2 will include removal of the portables, new blacktop, and installation of a new play structure. Completion of both phases is expected within approximately 18 months.
Construction is expected to begin in June on two new classroom wings at the Argus/Endeavor High School campus. The wing will feature a Career Technical Education building, science room, additional classrooms and restrooms. The addition will replace existing portable buildings.
Samuel Vaughn Elementary School will see more classrooms added on the heels of the classroom addition completed last year and funded through district and state matching funds. Currently in plan review with the State Architect’s office is a new four-classroom addition, restroom remodel, new underground storm basin, and new school marquee. Construction is anticipated to begin in June. A third phase is being planned to include an eight-classroom addition, remove old portables and install shade structures.
Work was recently completed on a re-roofing project at Mae Hensley Junior High School through funding from Measure Y. The new roof on the 600 classroom wing was the first in a lineup of district-wide improvements made possible by the school bond.
Voters approved Measure Y with 66.35 percent majority to levy a $60 assessment per $100,000 of assessed property value annually for 30 years. The tax bill for the median tax assessment value of $238,855 in Ceres comes to about $140 per year. Those with an assessed value of $300,000 pay an extra $180 on their annual property tax bill.
Measure Y doesn’t entirely cover the $160 million needed to fulfill CUSD’s comprehensive Facilities Master Plan. But CUSD Supt. Amy Peterman said the district should be in line for matching funds from the state since the voters took on a greater tax burden.
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 and 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.
Property owners in CUSD are still paying assessments on Measure U passed by the voters in 2008; and still paying on 2001 Measure J bond which is expected to fall off in seven years.
The assessments on the Measure Y bond issuance will cease in 2057-58.
