Following the failure of two bond measures earlier this year, the Ridgefield School District is exploring a new approach to fund its needs, with a new elementary school remaining the priority.
At a town hall on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the district’s Board of Directors shared their funding priorities and outlined proposals expected to be presented to voters early next year. The district currently serves 1,492 students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade, with enrollment expected to rise to 1,635 by the 2028-29 school year.
In April, two bond proposals failed to secure the required 60% supermajority. Had they passed, the funds would have been used to build two new schools and support various capital projects, including updates at Union Ridge and South Ridge elementary schools.
If both bonds had passed, the levy would have increased the anticipated property taxes from $2.53 to $3.89 per $1,000 in assessed property value in 2025. Superintendent Jenny Rodriquez noted that much of the feedback emphasized concerns over the original bond package, particularly the inclusion of unnecessary projects that added to the overall cost during a time of rising living expenses.
“The old … advice with bonds was [that] you put something in for everyone. So you put something in for the people who have high schoolers, and you put something in for the people who have elementary kids. You put something in for people who love sports. … That advice has kind of become outdated, and I think we heard that from community feedback, as well,” Rodriquez said during the town hall.
Instead of pursuing a bond, the board plans to propose a “Capital & Technology” levy, a new funding proposal for the district. Unlike bonds, which can last for up to 20 years, this levy would last for three years and cost an additional $0.84 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Over its three-year term, the levy would generate $21.2 million for the district.
The new elementary school is projected to cost $52.5 million to build, with the proposed levy covering $15 million of that cost. An additional $21 million will come from available impact fees, and $16.5 million will be provided by state funds.
Rodriquez explained that the design of the new elementary school has been revised to lower the final cost. The building’s size has been reduced from 7,000 to 6,500 square feet, with cuts made to gym space, collaboration areas, corridors, front fields and a portion of the building’s library.
Additionally, the capital and technology levy would support deferred maintenance for Union Ridge and South Ridge elementary schools. Rodriquez explained the two buildings need roof units replaced as soon as possible, as well as repairs to their HVAC systems. Deferred maintenance would cost no more than $4.7 million. She highlighted the two buildings were built in the 1960s and ’70s, respectively.
“Those roofs are well past their expected life. … If you’ve ever been in like an old house, there’s just like [when] things break. They break down and you have to repair them, and there’s not been a lot of that repair work done because there’s not been funding to do it,” she said.
Additionally, the levy would pay $500,000 for maintaining student and staff devices including laptops. This will continue the four-year laptop replacement cycle for students.
EP&O Levy
The district will also ask voters to approve renewing an existing educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy, which is set to expire in late 2025. The levy funds essential services such as basic staffing, programs, athletics and professional development.
Rodriquez noted the district will have two opportunities to send out a proposal to voters before the levy expires. Currently, the school district collects less than $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed property value. The board recommends renewing the levy with a cap of $1.75 per $1,000. The board will consider whether to run the EP&O levy in February or after the capital and technology levy is proposed.
The Board of Directors will meet at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Columbia Assembly Room in the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer St., to vote on the capital and technology levy. If the board reaches a consensus, the proposal will be presented for a vote on Feb. 11. To learn more about the proposals, go to shorturl.at/fUgq1.
