Residents of Fairfield that live within the FCSD have a vote coming up in November that will see a $38.51 million general obligation bond on the ballot.
Citing a brochure provided from the FCSD, they are seeking this money to construct a new Middle School building. The current middle school, they state, is in “disrepair” and requires “urgent attention.”
The most pressing needs for the middle school were identified through a facility assessment. The district is currently facing a hefty maintenance bill of around $1 million per year. To renovate the existing building would cost of 40 million. The building was constructed too low on the site, leading to ongoing water infiltration, a problem that cannot be effectively remedied. Additionally, classrooms are about 150 square feet smaller than the current standards. The current building does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which would be costly to modify now.
They plan to minimize the financial impact on taxpayers by combining the referendum funding with existing SAVE funds. The total project budget of $59 million would benefit from $21 million of SAVE funds, which is a statewide sales tax that does not increase property taxes.
Benefits of a new building include lower maintenance energy costs, as well as an enhanced learning environment. The board believes this will help attract new students and teachers to the district, as well as retain those already there.
For additional information on this subject, please visit https://www.fairfieldsfuture.org/article/1728360
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