School District to Vote on $130-Million School Bond Measure Thursday

Because  is falling short of paying for all improvements schools in the San Mateo-Foster City School District (SMFCSD) need, the school board will vote this Thursday night on whether or not to ask voters to support another $130-million bond measure come election time this November.

A large chunk of the money will go toward overcrowding in Foster City's three elementary schools.

The Superintendent's Committee on Overcrowding Relief (SCORE) proposed a two-tiered plan to the City Council of Foster City on Monday.

A temporary first tier of the plan would involve staggering class times for kindergarten classes - meaning, having both morning and afternoon class times - to help reduce class sizes while a long-term, permanent position is being put into place.

The permanent second tier of the plan involves tearing down Bowditch Middle School in Foster City and rebuilding it, adding extra room to move fifth graders out of the three elementary schools and relocating them at Bowditch.

The proposed plan is estimated to cost $65 million.

SMFCSD Assistant Superintendent Molly Barton told Patch there is already around $12 million still set aside from Measure L for improvements to Bowditch. Therefore, around $48-50 million is needed to cover the remainder of the costs.

The school district had already been in talks to ask voters to approve a new school bond measure to pay for school facility improvements throughout the district that Measure L fell short of paying for, including many schools in San Mateo. Therefore, the district plans to add the needed funds to cover the Bowditch plan, should it be approved by the school board, onto the bond measure they plan to vote on at this Thursday night's school board meeting, bringing the total to $130 million.

The rest of the $130 million would go toward needed improvements to other schools in the district, including many in San Mateo.

Public Welcome at SMFCSD Board Meeting This Thursday

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the board room of the  at 1170 Chess Dr. in Foster City. The public is welcome to attend, and certain portions of the meeting will be set aside to allow for public comment.

For more information, visit www.smfc.k12.ca.us.

PATCH WANTS TO KNOW - What do you think of the district's proposed plans for school improvements? Would you support a new $130-million school bond measure on the November ballot? Tell us in the comments below, and vote in our poll.

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