Burlingame schools seek bond measure

The district is currently being “reactive” to facility needs than proactively and efficiently addressing areas of concern, and the revenue from the bond measure, if passed, could help the district significantly, she said.

While improvements have been made to the district’s schools in recent years, some classrooms still contain “dry rot, leaky roofs and outdated plumbing and electrical systems,” the district’s website said. Funding would also go toward updating science, technology, engineering and math labs.

Improvements included on a project list further detail the modernization that would take place, the replacement of antiquated portable classrooms with permanent facilities, the installment of energy efficient systems and infrastructure, improving school site parking and traffic circulation, and more. The priority will be to address the absolutely necessary, Silversmith said previously.

“Placing a general obligation bond measure before district voters would provide funding to address the identified high-priority capital projects,” a staff report said.

Revenue from the bond measure can only go toward capital improvements and facility needs, and cannot go to salaries or other expenditures. If passed, it would levy $16 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year.

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

“This is the longest we’ve gone between bonds,” Silversmith said.

In November 2024, voters also approved a parcel tax measure with revenue going toward teachers and academic programs.

Many of the projects and goals outlined in the upcoming bond measure are ongoing maintenance needs and improvements that were similarly outlined in 2020. The district is working on revising its Facilities Master Plan, last updated in 2016, which could inform what the bond dollars will go toward.

Completed projects funded by the 2020 bond include a new play structure at Lincoln Elementary School, a new student recreation center and auditorium modernization at Burlingame Intermediate School, and new classroom furniture districtwide. Some ongoing projects include a new transitional kindergarten building and turf field at McKinley Elementary School and modernization of the district office.

Remaining identified projects include a new administrative building and library at Lincoln, a new library and turf field at Washington Elementary School and new transitional-kindergarten play structures at Franklin and Lincoln elementary schools.