The Ross School renovation project is starting in April 2008!
This is an exciting opportunity to renovate and rebuild the older parts of the school, including elevating these buildings
above the flood plain. This website provides information about all aspects of this project including
the supplemental bond Measure A that is on the June 3rd ballot.
Ross School provides an outstanding education for the children in our community, but its K-5 classrooms and other
facilities (most built in 1941) have outlived their useful lives. In 2006, the community generously
approved a $15 million bond, which serves as the core funding for our current school renovation to replace the deteriorated
K-5 classrooms and raise the school above the flood plain. Click HERE or click
HERE to learn about the current state of the School.
The project is the culmination of a multi-year design and planning process, with input from parents,
faculty, community members and school renovation professionals and consultants. Click HERE to learn more about the planning and design process.
The completed School will be a great asset to the Ross Community for many generations
to come and the safe, updated facility will enhance the learning environment for our children. Click HERE to see floorplans and renderings of the planned facility.
The project is scheduled to begin in late April 2008. Click HERE for more information on
the anticipated construction schedule.
The
overall projected costs are in line with comparable public school projects here in Marin County and around California.
Click HERE to see cost comparisons
with other school construction projects.
The District has diligently and successfully pursued every avenue of funding, including federal and state funds (approximately
$6 million), and private community contributions (targeted at $8 million). However, a funding shortfall
still exists to complete the project.
Measure A seeks approval of a supplemental $6.75 million bond to Finish the Job. Click HERE to see more information
on the cost structure and funding sources for the project.
Completing the project in its entirety would be the most cost-effective and least disruptive option.
Without Measure A, only the first floor of the K-5 facility would be completed, necessitating long-term portable classrooms
along Ross Common. These portable classrooms would reduce available playground space by approximately 50%.
Click HERE to see a rendering of long-term
portable classrooms.
Additionally,
without completion of all classrooms, construction of the privately funded gymnasium/multipurpose room would be delayed indefinitely
due to space constraints.
Even with the additional tax resulting from the approval of Measure A, Ross School District homeowner
assessments will be comparable to other local districts such as Tiburon and Kentfield. Click HERE to see a comparison of other local school district tax rates.
A
YES vote on Measure A will:
- Achieve cost efficiencies and avoid future cost escalation (costs increase
by approximately $3.5 million if completion of classroom construction is delayed by 5 years)
- Reduce disruption
- Leverage taxpayer dollars with private donations
- Cost approximately $125 or less per year for the majority of homeowners
- Click
HERE to see the cost for individual homeowners
- Enhance the
school’s appearance, including moving the main entrance away from Allen Avenue
With a combination
of public and private funding, we can complete our school renovation project, provide a safe environment for our children,
and enhance our community for future generations.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON MEASURE A ON JUNE 3RD!
Please Click HERE for a summary of the impact of a YES vote vs a NO vote
Questions? Click
HERE to read Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Ross BEARS Committee at 267-3980
and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have over the phone or, if you wish, discuss the project and Measure
A in further detail in person.
To see the entire presentation that was given to the community on January 16th regarding
the challenges and opportunities related to the renovation, please click
HERE.
The easiest way to vote is by absentee ballot. You don’t
have to worry about getting to the polls on June 3rd. You can vote at your convenience.
Absentee ballots will be mailed out starting approximately May 5th, but you can request one up until May
27th. To request an absentee ballot, please visit http://www.marinvotes.org/.
