A $24.2 million bond will be on the November ballot for mountain and foothill residents in Sierra Unified School District.

Trustee James Hoak says selling the community on the bond will be an “uphill battle.” But he’s confident that when voters learn the district’s buildings average age is 71 years, they’ll realize the benefits of voting to pass.

“We decided on a lower amount so we can start making some improvements and earning trust,” Hoak said. “We want to show the community what we can do with this chunk of change and then go from there. We’re really just trying to take baby steps … with the things that really need to be improved.”

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First Time Sierra Unified Has Proposed a Bond

Sierra Unified has never tried to pass a school bond before. The district’s bond committee has a town hall scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22. The bond will focus on modernizing the buildings — one of which is more than 100 years old.

The small gym was built in 1922, according to the needs assessment conducted by the district. The administration building dates to 1938.

“Some of the sinks and stuff that’s inside the bathrooms have been around for generations,” Hoak said. “My mom probably used the same toilet.”

The biggest expense covered by the bond would be new roofing, estimated at $7.8 million. New windows would cost the district $2 million.

Hoak said the old buildings have strong bones and the desire of the board is to maintain their classic character.

Approving Bond Opens Up Matching Funds for District

The bond would add $45 of property tax per $100,000 of assessed value, generating about $1.7 million a year. Hoak said there’s definitely been a negative reaction to the tax.

A conservative himself, Hoak said he was initially opposed to it, too, until he realized the need to upgrade the district’s aging structures.

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He said many voters are coming around to support the bond, which needs 55% approval for passage. He hopes the town hall will give the public a chance to see the condition of some buildings.

“I think it’s gaining momentum. People are realizing, ‘you know what? Yeah, we need to make these improvements,’ ” Hoak said. “I see it changing but definitely we took it on as an uphill battle.”

Getting a school bond approved could also open up matching funds from the state budget, especially Proposition 2, the $10 billion statewide public education bond that earmarks some money for small districts.

Prop. 2, which goes before voters statewide in November, covers up to 65% of modernization project costs and 55% of new construction projects.

Contractor Schneider Electric agreed to work with the district to help find funds, Hoak said.

“Personally, I think it’s definitely going to happen, we’ll get more funds out of that,” Hoak said. “But you don’t know until you pass the bond and start moving forward.”