Evaluating priorities for Sonoma Valley Schools bonds

Series of meetings start this Wednesday on spending funds from Measure E, the $120 million general obligation bond voters approved in November.|

Valley residents can get a look at how the Sonoma Valley Unified School District is going to start spending funds from Measure E, the $120 million general obligation bond voters approved in November.

Over the next month, the district will be holding community meetings at each of the district’s campuses.

But the money won’t cover all the district’s facilities woes.

The school district’s Facility Master Plan identified $220 million in upgrades, some of which are covered by bond funds while others can be met through deferred maintenance. Of the estimated $220 million in upgrades, Sonoma Valley High alone had an estimated price tag of $112 million while the rest of the district combined had about $110 million.

School Superintendent Louann Carlomagno said the individual master plans, all of which, except for the high school, date back to 2011, have been revised. Some of the projects on the lists have been done.

“Sites have held meetings with staff, parents and stakeholders who use the facilities,” Carlomagno said. “The facility master plans have been revised and projects have been prioritized.”

People attending the community meetings will be able to meet the architect and the project team, ask questions and provide feedback.

“The next step is to get input from the community,” Carlomagno said. “The feedback from the community will be taken into consideration as the plans move forward.”

The meetings start this week on Wednesday, April 26, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Altimira Middle School and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sonoma Valley High School.

On Wednesday, May 10, it’s Adele Harrison Middle School from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Dunbar Elementary from 5 to 6 p.m.

The meetings continue on Thursday, May 11, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Flowery Elementary, and from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Sonoma Charter School.

Sassarini Elementary and Prestwood meetings will be held on Wednesday, May 17. Sassarini from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Prestwood from 5 to 6 p.m. And the following day, from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, May 18, it’s Woodland Star Charter’s turn.

The El Verano Elementary meeting will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 24. As of now, a Creekside High School meeting has yet to be scheduled.

Carlomagno said the prioritized project lists will go to the school board for its input, and ultimately staff will bring the plans to the board for its approval.

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