Potential 2024 Facilities Bond Measure
Repairing and Upgrading Local Schools Without Increasing Tax Rates
Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) serves over 6,100 students from preschool through 12th grade at eight award-winning schools. Student achievement in Manhattan Beach schools consistently ranks among the best in the state and the nation and is rising. In fact, Mira Costa High School recently ranked in the top 2% of all high schools in the country.
MBUSD Aging School Facilities Need Repairs
Many Manhattan Beach schools were built over 70 years ago and are in need of urgent repairs and upgrades to support quality education. MBUSD recently completed a thorough assessment of every classroom and school facility to identify and prioritize needed upgrades. Leaky roofs, deteriorating plumbing, restrooms, and gas and sewer lines need to be fixed or replaced. Classrooms and labs need updates to meet current educational standards for science, technology, engineering, math, reading, and writing instruction. However, the State does not provide dedicated funding for school facility improvements unless school districts have local matching funds.
To fund necessary upgrades to our local schools without increasing tax rates paid by local residents, the Board of Trustees is considering placing a school improvement bond to generate approximately $200 million to fund local school repairs and upgrades without increasing tax rates. These improvements include:
- Replacing aging and leaking roofs
- Upgrading outdated classrooms and labs to support quality instruction in science, technology, engineering, math, reading, and writing
- Upgrading plumbing to protect safe drinking water
- Repairing deteriorating electrical systems
- Improving school safety systems including safety doors, fireproofing, smoke alarms, and detectors
- Removing asbestos and lead paint where encountered
- Replacing outdated sewer and gas lines
Mandatory Fiscal Accountability and Local Control
- A school facilities improvement bond measures must include strict fiscal accountability protections, including: All funds would be controlled locally and could not be taken away by the State
- An independent citizens’ oversight committee, mandatory annual audits, and public disclosure of spending would ensure all funds are used for voter-approved projects only
- None of the money raised could be used for administrators’ salaries or pensions
- A potential measure would not increase current tax rates
We Want to Hear from You!
As MBUSD explores options to repair and upgrade our local schools we welcome your input. If you have questions or input that you would like to share, please contact [email protected].