Dr. Scott's letter to the community
Measures S and T update
Eureka City Schools
3200 Walford Avenue, Eureka, CA 95503
(707)441-2400
February 7, 2003
Dear Greater Eureka Resident:
On March 5, 2002, voters in the Greater Eureka Community overwhelmingly passed Measures S and T which provides $42 million for school facility improvements. Projects identified in the Measures concentrated primarily on modernization, seismic retrofitting of Eureka High School, and safety. Eureka City Schools extends heartfelt thanks for your support in passing Measures S and T.
With the recent arrival of your property tax bill, you most likely are curious about our progress with regard to facility improvements. We have been busy putting the pieces together that will allow the district to move forward with facility improvement projects. The appointment of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee was the first order of business. Community members representing PTA, business, taxpayers association, senior citizens, and the community in general were selected after a detailed application and interview process. This committee has been meeting since June 24, 2002. Committee members include Liana Simpson, Larona Farnum, Albert “Fred” Nelson, Susan Seaman, Marge Custis, Bob Marino, Melinda Ciarabellinni, Kurt Kramer, and Ken Skaggs. The Citizens’ Oversight Committee is advisory to the Governing Board and will communicate with the public.
With the assistance of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee, the district has hired two architectural firms, Matson and Vallerga Architects Inc., for the elementary projects and LPA, Inc., for the secondary projects. We will now be able to develop the necessary blue print plans that will allow us to get state approval to begin projects. This generally takes about twelve months due to considerable regulations and a hefty bureaucracy.
Eureka City Schools will be looking to complete some bond projects that can occur without state approval. These projects may include improving traffic congestion issues through better drop-off zones and renovating existing outdoor physical education facilities used heavily by the community. Lafayette will get a new roof and Lincoln will be fitted with new exterior siding. We will also be replacing aging portables.
Over the coming months, we will be making many critical decisions in consultation with the Citizens’ Oversight Committee. It is our desire to keep you informed on a regular basis. Again, thank you for your generous support for the improvement of facilities and student learning in Eureka City Schools.
Cordially,
James W. Scott, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Information about Measures S and T
