A: General Obligation bonds (GO bonds) are a means for a school district to borrow money to generate revenue for major construction/facilities projects. Municipalities ask residents to vote and approve GO bonds to fund large, public projects over multiple years. In most cases, bonds are repaid over 20 years through property taxes.

A: Classroom and schools have been well maintained, but aging facilities require modernization and critical upgrades. Health, safety, and security improvements need to be made at all nine sites. 

A: If approved Bond Measure Z will provide $158.3 Million for crucial school facility  improvement projects. 

A: Today, the scope of improvements needed in EUSD schools is far more than current funding sources available. The funding that the District receives is intended to be used for the day-to-day education of children and not for major upgrades, renovations, modernization projects, or new classrooms and facilities. Bond Measure Z is specifically to fund those types of facility improvements. 

A: Board priorities for facility and maintenance updates include:

• At all campuses replace leaky roofs, plumbing, sewage needs, drainage, HVAC systems etc. 
• Basic modernizations to classrooms across the district
• Removal of Portable Classrooms and replace with permanent structures where enrollment warrants
• Address older schools (PEC, OK, and Capri) needs
• Address undersized classrooms across the district
• Update restrooms (students and staff)
• Improve outdoor learning spaces and increase shade
• Replace all wood chips to rubberized surfaces and add tracks
• Complete site kitchens
• Flora Vista Preschool Building Rebuild
• Expand the Child Nutrition Services facility to meet increased demands

A:  The Facilities Plan (FP) was created strategically and identifies a vision for the next 10 to 15 years. Throughout the process, collaboration with school site committees and District leadership helped shape the vision that is reflective of EUSD. School Site Committees varied but typically included the Principal, teachers, parents and staff administrators. The FP creation process was designed to reflect the community of Encinitas Union School District through transparent stakeholder and community outreach. These important conversations established the foundation for implementable recommendations that benefit students, staff, and the community. 

The four primary components of the EUSD Facilities Plan include:

1. EUSD’s Educational Vision—How do students want to learn, and teachers want to teach?
2. Facilities Assessment—What condition are the existing facilities in?
3. Demographics Review—How many students will be attending each school?
4. Financial Analysis—How will improvements be funded?

• 39 Face-to-Face meetings with the superintendent
• 7 Board Meetings, including 2 facilities/bond workshops
• 4 In-person facilities planning meetings per school site
• 100+ Meetings on facilities plan development since 2019 

A: If passed, the increase to property tax will be approximately $19 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your property. 

A: Bond money is restricted to it's uses and legally can only be used for building construction, building maintenance, and property repairs. By law, there must be annual audits of expenditures, and no bond money can be used for teacher or administrative salaries. Additionally, all bond funds have to be spent locally and cannot be taken by the state. Encinitas Union School District is committed to being fully transparent and accountable in their use of potential bond funds. 

A: In November 2010, voters in the city of Encinitas and the south Carlsbad area of Rancho La Costa passed a $44 million bond extension. The bond funds benefitted all nine EUSD schools and helped the district in three areas. The first provided students with 21st Century classrooms including infrastructure upgrades and provide technology tools for students and teachers. The second area of focus for Proposition P is energy efficiency which included providing solar energy, installation of solar tubes for lighting, bringing reclaimed water for irrigation, replacing inefficient heating and air condition systems, and upgrading restroom fixtures. The third area focused on upgrading and renovating existing facilities around the district.

In the spring of 2022, the bond funds were completely expended, the Board of Trustees received the final audit report and closed the fund.  Additionally, the Citizens' Oversight Committee presented their final report to the Board of Trustees. 

Board priorities for facility and maintenance updates include:

• At all campuses replace leaky roofs, plumbing, sewage needs, drainage, HVAC systems etc.
• Basic modernizations to classrooms in all schools
• Removal of Portable Classrooms and replace with permanent structures where enrollment warrants
• Address older schools (PEC, OK, and Capri) needs
• Address undersized classrooms across the district
• Update restrooms (students and staff)
• Improve outdoor learning spaces and increase shade
• Replace all wood chips to rubberized surfaces and add tracks
• Complete site kitchens
• Flora Vista Preschool Building Rebuild
• Expand the Child Nutrition Services facility to meet increased demands

Click Here - EUSD Facilities Master Plan 

PAUL ECKE CENTRAL - Almost 100 Years Old

• Outdated plumbing is not functioning for sewage and drainage. Complete overhaul needed.
• Undersized classrooms that are half the size of recommendations.

• Lack of space for programs at the site and outdated portables.

Ocean Knoll - 65 Years Old

• 15 classrooms shut down due to mold from significant school-wide drainage issues.
• Bathrooms, plumbing, ventilation and electrical need updates and modernization.
• Safety fencing needs replacement. 

CAPRI - 54 Years Old

• Three grade levels are housed in outdated portables with most recent mold issues.
• Complete replacement of HVAC system needed.
• Significant landscape and school wide drainage issues requiring updates and modernization.

OTHER HIGH NEED PROJECTS

• The Special Education Preschool building is currently unable to meet the needs of our population.
• Site kitchens are unable to meet the needs of feeding students.
• Undersized classrooms and portables are an issue at 7 of our 9 campuses.