Stanislaus Union school district OKs plan for bond funds

Stanislaus Union School District trustees Thursday approved a plan on how to spend $39.8 million in possible bond funding for school construction.

Trustees also reviewed potential language for the ballot measure that could go before voters in November.

No one from the public spoke at Thursday night's meeting, but trustees discussed the plan and the ballot language.

Trustees will make a final decision at their July meeting, but are trying to gather as much input as possible from the community in advance. District staff has spent more than a year studying the district's facility needs. Input is needed from administrators, employees, parents and community members.

If the northeast Modesto district goes for a bond, it will tax property owners $30 for every $100,000 of assessed value. The average assessed value in the district is a little more than $200,000, said Dawn Riccoboni, the district's chief business official.

Results of 400 phone surveys of likely voters earlier this year showed 64 percent approval of a bond that taxed them at the $30-for-every-$100,000 threshold. A school bond would need 55 percent support to pass.

Stanislaus Union has about 3,200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

In addition to the $39.8 million raised from increased property taxes, the bond plan anticipates receiving $23.3 million from the state and $1.9 million in interest, for a total of $65 million for construction, modernization and technology.

Cost breakdowns and some projects include:

• $20.1 million for Prescott Senior Elementary -- a new multipurpose room, library expansion, new portables, heating and ventilation improvements

• $2 million for Agnes Baptist Elementary -- upgrade and repair portables, restrooms and the power system

• $6.4 million for Chrysler Elementary -- improvements to technology and cables, door frames and the power system

• $4.3 million for Eisenhut Elementary -- upgrading restrooms and improving heating and ventilation

• $500,000 for Mary Lou Dietrich Elementary, the district's newest campus -- installing shade structures and improving tables, benches and the water system

• $5.5 million for Muncy Elementary -- improving heating and upgrading restrooms

  $5.4 million for Stanislaus Elementary -- restroom upgrades and roofing, well, water, sewer, and heating and ventilation improvements

• $3 million for a district office -- a 9,300-square-foot building that would house all administrative offices in one location with a boardroom, restrooms and meeting space for parent and staff development

• $3 million for technology upgrades -- computers, LCD projectors, portable interface devices.

• A final decision on the bond is set for the July 17 board meeting,

  7 p.m. at Agnes Baptist Elementary's multipurpose room, 1825 Cheyenne Way, Modesto.

  Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.