Facility Bond Measures
Modernization of all district facilities
San Luis Coastal Unified School District is very fortunate to have a community that supports public education. In 2014, Bond Measure D was passed with over a 70% approval and focused on modernizing our two comprehensive high schools. This bond measure brought $177 million to the district. Through state grants, matching funds, interest, and developer fees, we turned that $177 million into roughly $220 million.
Over the past eight years, the district has completed the work at our high schools, as well as a few other projects at Bishop's Peak Elementary School (new MPR, kitchen, and office), C.L. Smith Elementary School (new office, restrooms and staff room), and Bellevue Santa Fe Elementary School (a district-owned property) (new modular classrooms and office modernization) along with projects at all sites (new infrastructure, playgrounds, roofing, asphalt repair, etc.).
After making Morro Bay High School and San Luis Obispo High School look fantastic and bringing them up to date, there was a need to focus on our other sites. Bond Measure C-22 passed in 2022 with another large margin and has provided the district with $349 million to make the same improvements at Pacific Beach High School, our two middle schools, our ten elementary schools and our district office campus. This construction is getting underway this summer as projects are being approved with the Department of State Architects.
In terms of sustainability and climate change measures, all modernization has to meet the most recent Title 24 code for building energy efficiency standards.
The energy efficient upgrades and climate friendly changes happening with construction include:
- New energy efficient reflective roofs – color and materials have to meet code;
- New electric HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) replacing natural gas units with systems that can turn off during non-use hours;
- Highest level of fresh air and ventilation HVAC units;
- Energy efficient windows;
- New system technology – energy monitoring (i.e. sensors that turn off air conditioning if a window or door is opened);
- Improved insulation;
- Removal of all asbestos materials and elimination of lead based paint;
- Replacement of trees and replanting at a 2 to 1 rate;
- New stormwater infrastructure and retention basins;
- New low flow toilets and sinks;
- New energy efficient lighting with multi-zone ability so staff can only turn on lights they need also dimming and movement on/off;
- New irrigation systems with water monitors;
- New sensors on our water meters that will tell us if we have a leak;
- LED stadium lighting that is instant off and on;
- Water friendly- drought resistant landscaping – drought tolerant plants and landscaping that allows rain water to permeate back into the water basin;
- New bike parking and racks to promote ride to school;
- Concrete flooring at our middle and high schools and other buildings as appropriate – this is much easier to clean and maintain;
- Solar system and new battery (peak shaving) implementation as required;
- District wide solar plan;
- Change of building orientation to maximize energy efficiency when able;
- Water filling stations;
- Addition of car charging stations and infrastructure as required. (This is going to be an area for us to determine how we can accomplish this requirement as we can not give away electricity , as it would be giving away public funds.);
- Shade structures; and
- New electrical services at each site to support new electrical and solar plans
The list is long and, thanks to our community, we will be making improvements that will make our schools much more sustainable and climate friendly. They will also be healthier places for our students and staff to be in each day.