Sierra Foothill School District Ponders Funding for Multi-Million Dollar Upgrades
gvw_nancy_price
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 3 years ago on
February 26, 2021

Share

It’s been more than three decades since any substantial work was done on Sierra Unified’s junior/senior high school. Its “newest” school, Foothill, opened as a middle school 25 years ago and now is the district’s sole elementary.

In recognition that the existing schools are in need of modernization, Sierra Unified officials are in the midst of an ongoing effort to figure out what the needs are now and 10 years or more into the future — and how to pay for them.

This week the board reviewed a multimillion-dollar project list that includes dreams for a new football stadium and other high school improvements and heard from consultants about options for putting a school bond measure on the 2022 ballot.

Board President Connie Schlaefer noted at Monday’s special meeting that taxpayers in the mountain communities northeast of Fresno will be likelier to vote in favor of adding to their tax burden if the district sells off property such as the old Sierra Elementary School site unless the district develops plans to use it.

Sierra Unified used to have two elementary schools, a middle school, and Sierra High. But when enrollments gradually started declining over the past two decades, the district turned Sierra High into a junior/senior high school and converted Foothills into a TK-6 elementary.

The district’s enrollment today is about half the size of the enrollment at the turn of the century.

Planning Process Helps Set Priorities

Superintendent Alan Harris told GV Wire℠ that when the district decided to develop a long-range facilities master plan, it provided an opportunity for trustees and community members to propose projects.

One from the plan’s community steering committee was to convert Sierra Elementary into an “experiential” school, similar to Clovis Unified’s Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora.

On Monday, the trustees decided not to move forward with that plan, but instead to focus on existing needs and plan for the next 10 years.

The facilities project presented to the School Board totals more than $200 million, but Harris cautioned that there is some duplication on the list, such as building a new athletic facility as well as modernizing the existing gym. Depending on the priorities that the trustees and community set, it would be either/or but not both, he said.

Just taking care of the basic needs of the junior high/high school is estimated to cost more than $30 million, Harris said.

Bond Measure On Tap?

To tackle those needs — and to take advantage of matching construction funding from the state — Sierra Unified may need to ask the community to consider a bond issue in 2022.

Although the district’s recent track record for bond measure is 0-3, a consultant told trustees on Monday that the work taking place now to identify the district’s needs and the process they’re engaging in would provide enough time to inform and educate area residents.

Trustees expressed some concern that the majority of the area’s residents are older than 55 and no longer have kids in school, so they may not be willing to take on a new property tax.

But at the same time, no one yet knows whether more parents who are able to work remotely in the post-pandemic world will choose a more rural environment for their families.

Ready for Next 100 Years

Sierra Unified is continuing to move forward with expanded education opportunities. Last fall the district debuted a new homeschooling option, Sierra@Home, that gives students the ability to learn from home and still participate in school activities such as sports. Harris said the district has made fast progress toward accreditation, which he expects could happen by the end of the year.

Sierra High students can participate in a wider range of academics and extracurricular programs than students at larger comprehensive high schools, he said.

“Our size allows us to really personalize our education and provide more opportunities for kids than they would get other places,” Harris said. “You go to our high school, you could be in dual enrollment, AP classes, play soccer and be in band and be in the ag program. You don’t have to choose just one.”

With Sierra High preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, he said, district officials are excited to be mapping out the road ahead: “As a community and as a board, we have a chance to vision the next hundred years and and really start building the future for our kids.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

Clovis Medical School Students Celebrate First-Ever ‘Match Day’ for Residency Programs

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

If You Want to See the April Eclipse, Make Sure to Protect Your Eyes

DON'T MISS

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

DON'T MISS

16 SWAT Officers Hospitalized After Blast at Training Facility in Southern California

DON'T MISS

Steven Mnuchin Builds Investor Group to Acquire TikTok Amid Potential US Ban

DON'T MISS

Kerman Council Delays Decision on Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

No data was found
Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

12 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

12 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

15 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

16 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

16 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

16 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

16 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

16 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

17 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

17 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

11 hours ago

Healthcare /
11 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

Local Education /
12 hours ago

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

Local Education /
12 hours ago

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

12 hours ago

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

Bitwise /
12 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Environment /
15 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

16 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

16 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend