Election Results: Measure I Facilities Bond for Alameda Unified Schools Wins

Information submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

Measure I, a $179.5 million facilities bond for schools in the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD), passed yesterday, according to preliminary election results. Alameda voters also elected two new trustees for the Board of Education.

With all precincts reporting, 61% of the community members who voted approved Measure I. Under state law, it needed 55% of the votes to pass.

“I’d like to thank the community for their continued support for our public schools,” says Interim Superintendent Sean McPhetridge. “We will now be able to repair and modernize our school sites so that students and staff have schools they need to stay safe and engaged in 21st century teaching and learning. As always, I am heartened and encouraged by the level of commitment this community shows for the education of its children.”

According to Implementation Plan B, which the Board of Education approved in late June of this year, $90 million of the bond would be held aside for improving the high schools, with project plans to be developed after the community meets to identify a vision for the future of the high schools this winter and spring. The plan calls for the initial $89.5 million in bonding capacity to go towards specific critical needs at the elementary and middle schools, including safety and security improvements, infrastructure upgrades, construction to address projected enrollment growth, and seismic improvements.

The Board of Education will hear a brief presentation on the impact of the measure passing at its public meeting on November 18, 2014. The board will vote on a list of preliminary projects at a future meeting. Projects cannot commence until the district receives the first round of funding, which usually takes three to four months.

“I am excited about the passage of Measure I that will now provide 21st century upgrades to our schools and the additional classroom space needed for potential growth in enrollment,” says Board President Margie Sherratt. “The passage of the bond was a long and sometimes arduous process. I am extremely grateful for the support from community members and for the hard work and man/woman hours of the Measure I committee. This is a great victory for Alameda.”

Board of Election Results

In other schools-related election results, Solana Henneberry, a special education teacher, and Gary Lym, an accountant and retired professor, also won two seats on the Board of Education.

If current election results hold, AUSD Board Member Trish Spencer will become mayor, leaving a seat open on the Board of Education. The new board will decide whether to hold a special election for that position or appoint someone. If the board votes to appoint, a subcommittee of board members will review applications submitted for the position and then interview the candidates in open session.

“I look forward to getting to know and working with our new board members,” McPhetridge said. “And I would like to thank Mike McMahon, Margie Sherratt, and Trish Spencer for their service to this district and the community. Their dedication and expertise have been greatly appreciated.”

The new trustees will be sworn in at the December 9, 2014 Board of Education meeting.

Photo via shutterstock.