Ravenswood City School District

Measure I - 55% Approval Required

Vote YES on I to ensure that Ravenswood City School Dsitrict classrooms are ready for today and tomorrow by continuing the facilities master plan for all schools.  This plan, developed with broad community input, identified $300 million of needed improvements to aging schools built in the 1950s. The District transparently and effectively addressed just under $100 million of those needs with previous bonds, completing that work ahead of schedule and costing taxpayers many millions less than anticipated.  Now it is time to modernize every school.

The District has signifcantly upgraded the middle school which serves all Ravenswood students and ensured that all classrooms are warm, safe, and dry. Yet today many students are still learning in portables and classrooms that are decades past their planned lifespan. Many schools lack effective ventilation, modern classroom technology, and appropriate recreational spaces for sports and afterschool activities.

With Measure I, and the State matching funds it unlocks, Ravenswood will modernize facilities to provide 21st century learning for all students by:

* Replacing aging classrooms and portables with new permanent classrooms

* Upgrading ventilation systems to handle wildfire smoke and future pandemics

* Upgrading classroom technology systems

* Replacing aging water pipes and drinking fountains

* Updating accessibility for disabled students

* Upgrading school security

* Providing sports fields and recreational space for after school programs

* Creating facilities for pre-school education

Every penny of Measure I will be used to improve local schools.

* No funds can be taken by the State

* All funds will be controlled locally with community input, citizen oversight, and annual audits to ensure funds are used as promised

* Local schools will be eligible for millions of dollars in State matching funds

* No funds can be used for administrators' salaries, benefits, or pensions

JOIN PARENTS TEACHERS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.  

VOTE YES ON Measure I.

/s/ Mele K. Latu, Board President, Ravenswood City School District

/s/ Lisa Gauthier, Vice Mayor, East Palo Alto

/s/ Jenny Bloom, Trustee, Ravenswood City School District

/s/ Andrea Reyna, Teacher, Ravenswood City School District

/s/ Frankie Drake, Belle Haven Resident 

In 2016, voters approved Ravenswood City Elementary District's $26 million bond to "improve technology, computer, and science labs", likely obsolete now, as is most computer technology after 6 years. But you're still paying for it.

In 2018, voters approved $70 million to "invest in classroom computers and technology." With luck, this equipment still works after 4 years. But should you still be paying for it, at interest rates of up to 12% (legal limit)?  

To buy a computer that will last 3-5 years, do you apply for a 30-year loan?  No! But that's what Ravenswood City Elementary District keeps doing.  Nuts, right?

They say insanity is doing the same thing again and again, while expecting different results.

Now, just as families are grappling with a 7.9% rise in prices, the district wants a whopping $110 million of debt - for "technology" - that you, your children, and likely grandchildren, will still owe in 2052.

The district spends $23,413 per child per year - 178% of the average elementary district statewide.  Hint: they have plenty of funds for technology, without saddling you, and today's students, with new debt.

They claim they need to construct new classrooms - despite enrollment's steady decline from 4,058 in 2015 to 3,269 in 2020 (19.4%, 789 fewer students).

Source: California Department of Education's Education Data Partnership: www.Ed-Data.org)

Bonds are like mortgages; principal must be repaid, in full, plus interest galore. Which means tax dollars galore - money won't be going to teachers, textbooks, computers, maintenance.  Interest goes where? To bondholders.

Making big payments to lenders for 3+ decades - is this the best us of our local tax dollars?

If you answered "No,", please vote NO on Measure I.  Teach Ravenswood City Elementary District board to be financially responsible by voting NO on Measure I. 

You can be FOR teachers, FOR children, and FOR education but AGAINST decades of bonded indebtedness. 

For information: www.SVTaxpayers.org

/s/ Mark W.A. Hinkle, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

/s/ Christopher Minoletti, President Pro Tem, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

In 2016, voters approved Ravenswood City Elementary District's $26 million bond to "improve technology, computer, and science labs", likely obsolete now, as is most computer technology after 6 years. But you're still paying for it.

In 2018, voters approved $70 million to "invest in classroom computers and technology." With luck, this equipment still works after 4 years. But should you still be paying for it, at interest rates of up to 12% (legal limit)?  

To buy a computer that will last 3-5 years, do you apply for a 30-year loan?  No! But that's what Ravenswood City Elementary District keeps doing.  Nuts, right?

They say insanity is doing the same thing again and again, while expecting different results.

Now, just as families are grappling with a 7.9% rise in prices, the district wants a whopping $110 million of debt - for "technology" - that you, your children, and likely grandchildren, will still owe in 2052.

The district spends $23,413 per child per year - 178% of the average elementary district statewide.  Hint: they have plenty of funds for technology, without saddling you, and today's students, with new debt.

They claim they need to construct new classrooms - despite enrollment's steady decline from 4,058 in 2015 to 3,269 in 2020 (19.4%, 789 fewer students).

Source: California Department of Education's Education Data Partnership: www.Ed-Data.org)

Bonds are like mortgages; principal must be repaid, in full, plus interest galore. Which means tax dollars galore - money won't be going to teachers, textbooks, computers, maintenance.  Interest goes where? To bondholders.

Making big payments to lenders for 3+ decades - is this the best us of our local tax dollars?

If you answered "No,", please vote NO on Measure I.  Teach Ravenswood City Elementary District board to be financially responsible by voting NO on Measure I. 

For information: www.SVTaxpayers.org

/s/ Mark W.A. Hinkle, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

/s/ Christopher Minoletti, President Pro Tem, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

It's the same argument, by someone not living in Ravenswood City School District, once again, recommending that we do nothing to invest in our children. Don't believe the libertarian party's fearmongering.

Vote YES on Measure I.  Ravenswood has among the lowest bond tax rate for school districts in the County.  Our last interest rate was under 3%, tax rates are considerably lower than promised, and the bonds - principal and interest - cost millions less than expected. When adjusting for need, it is among the lowest.

Ravenswood City School District has transparently and effectively used previous bonds to make big structural investments to keep our students warm, safe, and dry. This included key technology infrastructure, not laptops.  Now is the time to make sure all our over 50 year old classrooms are ready for today and tomorrow.  Measure I will create high quality permanent learning spaces for our children.

Measure I makes financial sense and increases the quality of our schools for all of our community.

* All our bonds will go to significant construction projects

* These investments will be controlled locally, with community input, citizen oversight, and annual aduits to ensure funds are used as promised.

* Measure I will provide the local match for millions of dollars in State matching funds.

* No funds can be used for administrators' salaries, benefits, or pensions.

Measure I is endorsed by parents, teachers, business owners, and community leaders.  Vote YES on MEASURE I.

Learn more at YESONRAVENSWOOD.ORG

/s/ Tamara Sohomehin, Vice-President RCSD Board

/s/ Appollonia Uhila, Pacicif Islander Community Leader, EPA

/s/ Sharifa Wilson, Member, Bond Oversight Committee

/s/ Bronwyn Alexander, Clerk, RCSD Board 

/s/ Alicia Gutierrez, Family Engagement Specialist, City of East Palo Alto