Burlingame district still deciding on bond ballot measure

Without a contracted team to conduct research on a potential bond measure’s success, district staff is responsible for determining what amount would likely pass with majority support.  

Funds from a bond measure would address “not wants, but needs, necessities,” Superintendent Marla Silversmith said.

Rather than fancy building upgrades, “ongoing costs of re-piping buildings, updating Wi-Fi, making sure we’re prepared … those will be the kinds of things we’re looking at,” Silversmith said. 

The district passed its most recent bond, worth $97 million, in March 2020. The bond measure was a $25 tax per $100,000 of assessed property value. 

The district could seek up to $190 million in bond authorization, however, it is likely looking for an amount similar to the most recent bond, board President Doug Brown said. The exact number was not defined, and a list of projects was not finalized at the meeting Jan. 13.

Burlingame School District staff are looking to revise its Facilities Master Plan, last updated in 2016, which could inform what the bond dollars will go toward, staff said at the board meeting.