Ponderosa High School

March 2008 Letter from Principal Moore
   

Dear Ponderosa Parents and Students:

 

The El Dorado Union High District Board of Trustees is committed to improving the educational opportunities for students.  As part of their commitment to ensuring our students having meaningful opportunities available to them after high school, the Board of Trustees seeks to improve our educational facilities.  Measure Q, a general obligation bond, will appear on the June 3, 2008 election ballot.  Measure Q would raise $66.3 million to address the unfunded facilities needs in the El Dorado Union High School District Master Plan.

 

The El Dorado Union High School District Master Plan was created over a two year period with input from the Facilities Advisory Committee, which consisted of community members, parents, administrators, teachers, and classified staff.  The Master Plan was approved in November of 2007.  The Master Plan identified the following needs:

  • Modernize facilities to meet current fire and safety codes
  • Repair or replace aging roofs
  • Construct and renovate vocational job training facilities and equipment
  • Upgrade electrical wiring, plumbing and HVAC units
  • Upgrade classroom technology, computer labs, and technology infrastructure
  • Repair and renovate science classrooms and labs
  • Improve access for people with disabilities
  • Expand and repair library facilities
  • Repair restroom facilities
  • Modernize health and fitness facilities and equipment
  • Modernize and replace portable classrooms that are over twenty years old
  • Renovate performing arts facilities
  • Improve parking and traffic flow

 

There are $70 million in needs outlined in the Master Plan for which no funding source is available at the current time.  Measure Q would enable the EDUHSD to address these needs. 

 

The EDUHSD serves approximately 7,284 students.  Our students have experienced tremendous academic success.  The EDUHSD is the #1 ranked high school district in the greater Sacramento Area based on the Academic Performance Index (API) and is in the top 10% statewide.  All four comprehensive high schools are California Distinguished Schools. PHS and ORHS have been nominated for National Blue Ribbon School Recognition.  All schools have six-year accreditations from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  Measure Q is designed to ensure that our facilities will best serve the future needs of our students.

 

No funds from Measure Q will be spent on teacher or administrator salaries.  A general obligation bond requires that an oversight committee will guarantee funds are spent on the school improvement described.  The tax will be $16 per $100,000 assessed value.  The median assessed home value in the EDUHSD is $270,000.  The median tax will be $43.20 per year, which amounts to less than $4 per month.

 

With Measure Q each of the EDUHSD sites will benefit, ensuring that students continue to receive the high quality education they deserve, in facilities that meet the stringent academic and safety standards the public demands.  If you have additional questions about Measure Q, please attend the Principal Forum Night meetings on March 26 and April 23.

 

Sincerely,

 

Christopher A. Moore