Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) serves approximately 11,000 students in the four cities and unincorporated area on the Peninsula. Students receive a high quality and rigorous education at two early childhood education centers, ten elementary schools, three intermediate schools, two comprehensive high schools, one continuation school, and one distance learning academy. Thanks to hardworking students, teachers and staff, PVPUSD ranks among the top school districts at the local, state, and national levels.
While the quality of education in local schools is outstanding and PVPUSD does its best to maintain local schools, aging classrooms, science labs and school facilities are failing and
need urgent repairs. The average age of PVPUSD schools is nearly 60 years old. Leaky roofs and deteriorating infrastructure like plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems need
to be repaired or replaced. In fact, a power surge at Miraleste Intermediate School recently melted the outdated electrical panel, closing the school for three days. Last year alone there were about 45 classrooms and school facilities with leaky roofs that disrupt learning and can cause mold. Some schools were built so long ago that underground pipes and infrastructure are failing, resulting in gas leaks, water leaks, and sewage backups.
Most classrooms and labs were built for a different era of education. Some science labs have not been updated in 60 years. In addition to repairing what is broken and making seismic and safety improvements, updates are needed to provide access to learning technology and support advanced instruction in all subjects including science, technology, engineering, and math.
PVPUSD has conducted a thorough assessment of every classroom and facility in the district and prepared plans for the highest priority repairs. Because the State does not provide dedicated funding for school facility work, PVPUSD lacks a funding source for these urgent repairs and some schools may have to close. The last bond measures to fund repairs and upgrades at local schools were approved almost 20 years ago, funds from those measures were expended long ago.
On June 26, 2024, the PVPUSD Board of Education voted unanimously to place the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Classroom Repair/ Student Safety Measure on the November 5th, 2024 ballot for local voters to consider. If approved by 55% of local voters, this measure would provide $297,800,000 in locally controlled funding to complete the most urgent and high priority improvements, including:
● Repairing or replacing leaky roofs
● Fixing failing pipes to prevent sewer and gas leaks
● Fixing inadequate and failing electrical systems
● Repairing failing classrooms, restrooms, and school facilities
● Replacing outdated and inefficient heating and cooling systems
● Removing hazardous materials like asbestos and lead
● Replacing deteriorating 30+-year-old portable classrooms that exceed their life span
● Improving earthquake and fire safety and campus security
● Updating aging science labs and classrooms to meet current educational standards
The measure would cost $29 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value), or about $300 per year for the typical homeowner. PVPUSD plans to use shorter term 20-year bond issues in order to reduce the interest costs payable on the bonds and, therefore, reduce the property taxes paid by local taxpayers.
The measure requires strict fiscal accountability protections, including:
● All funds raised by this measure would be locally controlled and only go to repair PVPUSD schools
● An independent citizens’ oversight committee, annual audits, and public disclosure of all spending would be required
● The measure includes a detailed and legally binding project list describing the only projects that may be funded
● No funds could be taken away by the State
● None of the money raised could be used for salaries, benefits, or any expenses other than school facility repairs
● No funds could be used for workforce housing or district administrative buildings
Approval of the measure would help PVPUSD qualify for millions in state matching funds that will otherwise go to repair schools in other communities. The District can only access these state dollars if local matching funds are available from a local bond measure.
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please contact Superintendent Dr. Devin Serrano at [email protected]