ALSD School Facilities Update Parents and property owners: improve the quality of education in local public schools with picture of smiling elementary aged girl

School Facilities Update

Alta Loma School District

May 1, 2024

Dear Parents and Neighbors:

As Superintendent of Alta Loma School District, I am proud of the excellent teaching and learning happening in our neighborhood schools each day. In partnership with parents and the community, the District provides a safe, supportive environment where students develop a solid foundation to become productive, responsible citizens and lifelong learners. But, I am also concerned.

Our challenge is this: Alta Loma schools are aging. The state of our classrooms, facilities, and technology is impacting teaching and learning. Our public schools are in constant use, serving nearly 5,500 students each day. Some of our schools are over 70 years old, and all are in need of essential repairs and continuing upgrades to keep pace with advancing technology.

Safe, modern school facilities are essential to protecting the outstanding quality of our ten TK-8 schools.

Our school district makes every effort to use resources wisely. But, with limited help from the State, the burden is growing to adequately repair and upgrade our aging school facilities and classroom technology. We need to work together to protect the local quality of education.

So this school year we have made school facilities assessment and planning a top priority. We’re working hard to conduct an open, transparent, consensus-building process to ensure quality school facilities for the future.

I want to hear from you as we continue and complete this process. Simply fill out and return the attached response card, or scan the QR code, or visit our website www.alsd.k12.ca.us to express your views. Thank you. Your opinions are important to us. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Sherry Smith, Ed. D.
Superintendent

Our School Facilities Goals: E MAINTAIN the outstanding quality of education in Alta Loma (quality school facilities contribute to academic achievement). E REPAIR, rehabilitate, and modernize aging TK-8 neighborhood schools. E UPGRADE Alta Loma schools to keep pace with 21st century teaching and learning. E RENOVATE older schools so they meet current health codes and building safety codes. E IMPROVE student safety and security. Learn More: www.alsd.k12.ca.us Call us at: (909) 484-5151Complete and mail this card, or take the survey online. Scan the QR code, or go to: www.alsd.k12.ca.us Please rank these school facilities priorities in order of their importance to you (#1 = most important, #8 = least important).       E PROVIDING classrooms, facilities, and technology needed to support high-quality instruction in math, science, engineering, and technology. E REPAIRING older classrooms and school facilities, including deteriorating roofs, plumbing, sewer, heating, ventilation, and electrical systems. E CREATING modern, multi-use classrooms to support hands-on science instruction and learning-by-doing. E REMOVING hazardous materials like asbestos and lead pipes from older school sites, where encountered. E UPDATING classrooms and computer systems to keep pace with instructional technology. E RENOVATING older schools so they meet current health codes and building safety codes; providing proper access for students with disabilities.  E OTHER _________________________________________________  E IMPROVING student safety and campus security systems, including fencing, cameras, emergency communications, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinklers. Comments/questions: Contact information is optional: name address city state zip phone e-mail9390 Base Line Road Alta Loma, CA 91701 www.alsd.k12.ca.us Provided as a public service for your information only, from Alta Loma School District. What is this assessment project all about? As part of our commitment to maintaining the quality of education in neighborhood schools, Alta Loma School District has conducted a full assessment this year of all of our local school facilities needs—including TK-8 classroom structures, equipment, educational technology, and related school facilities at every school site in the school district. This assessment is part of a larger process to ensure our schools are structured and equipped to provide the best education possible to the students, families, and community we serve. Why now? Alta Loma TK-8 schools have grown old and outdated. The state of our classrooms, technology, and facilities is impacting teaching and learning. Our 10 schools are in constant use, most are at least 70 years old now, and all need continuing upgrades to keep pace with advancing technology. Part of our responsibility to the community we serve is to maintain quality school facilities. How will this effort improve instruction? We strive for teaching and learning excellence in every educational setting. Our goal is to provide all our students with access to the education and technologies they will need to be successful in high school, college, and well-paying jobs in the future. Safe, modern school facilities and technology are essential to ensuring student achievement and peak- performing schools. What about other funding? Our school district makes every effort to use resources wisely. But with limited help from the State, the burden is growing to adequately repair and upgrade our school facilities and classroom technology. We need to work together to protect the local quality of education. To that end, Alta Loma School District is exploring all options—including State matching funds and private grants. As part of this process we are also exploring the feasibility of seeking community support for a local school bond. School bonds are the most common way California communities fund the school upgrades we need. Don’t You have a School Facilities Maintenance Budget? Our school district maintenance and operations staff work hard to keep our schools safe and in adequate working condition. But with little help from the State, the current scope of repairs, upgrades, and new technology needed to ensure that all ten of our schools have the opportunity to deliver high quality education, far exceeds our standard allotment for school facilities maintenance. Are Alta Loma SD schools really that old? Many of our schools were built more than 70 years ago and don’t meet modern building safety codes. Several schools were built so long ago they have asbestos, lead pipes, water leaks, mold, and other hazards. We need to fix these problems. ALL students deserve to learn in quality classrooms and school facilities. There’s a direct relationship between quality school facilities and student achievement. Studies show that students and teachers perform best in safe, modern classrooms and schools with up-to-date technology. How can we be assured that the bond money would be spent properly? The potential bond, if approved by voters, will REQUIRE TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS. All funds raised would stay local to support ALSD school facility and technology improvements. These funds cannot be taken by the State or spent on administrators' salaries. An Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee is required to ensure funds are spent properly. A school bond measure also requires independent annual audits on use of bond proceeds. How much would the bond cost? The potential bond measure under consideration would extend, but not raise, your tax rate, while providing additional revenue for critical school facility projects. A $71 million bond measure would cost about $30 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value of a person’s property. The assessed value refers to the taxable value of your home, not the market value. If the bond is approved by voters, the typical homeowner in our school district will pay about $138 a year, or $11.50 a month. Where can I go for more information? For more information or share your input, visit: www.alsd.k12.ca.us OR contact: Eric Hart, Associate Superintendent- Administrative Services via email at: ehart@alsd.org.