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Special Board Meeting, Study Session on Facilities - Part 2, October 10, 2023
Dear FCUSD Community:
Please take time to read these Board Briefs summarizing last night’s Special Board Meeting. There are many details and resources to reference.
Background information
Folsom Cordova Unified School District has five (5) School Facility Improvement Districts (SFID). An SFID is a portion of the school district that is taxed through a general obligation (G.O.) bond based on the value of the property and approved by the voters in that portion of the district being taxed. These funds are then used for facility improvements, such as modernization, and new facility construction.
On Monday, the District held its second Special Board Meeting to discuss funding for facility improvements and new construction, specifically in SFID #4 (Rancho Cordova) and SFID #3 (which encompasses both Folsom and Rancho Cordova South of Highway 50).
Next steps
Upon discussion and careful consideration, the Board has determined next steps:
SFID #4
The consensus was to consider placing a bond measure on the 2024 November ballot, to fund the modernization of existing schools in that area. The Board also wants staff to explore other “Out of the Box” options for programs in Rancho Cordova.
FCUSD will work with a consultant to conduct a needs analysis and gather community sentiment to recommend facility priorities and the structure of a bond or multiple bonds for SFID #4.
SFID #3
In 2007 Measure M was passed by the voters in SFID #3, allowing for $750 million to fund new school construction across both Folsom and Rancho Cordova south of Hwy 50. At that time the projection was for housing in the Rio del Oro area in Rancho Cordova to grow first. However, the economic slowdown of the recession and multiple other economic factors caused housing starts to slow in both communities. As the economy improved, and new home construction revived, the Folsom area has grown more rapidly.
As a result of Folsom’s growth in SFID #3, there are two new schools funded with Measure M dollars, Mangini Ranch Elementary and Alder Creek Elementary (completion will be for the start of the 2024-25 school year). New school construction has taken place in Folsom and no new schools have been built in the Rancho Cordova portion of SFID #3. Additionally, building costs have escalated and schools are now more expensive to build.
There is a need to build a high school in the SFID #3 area to meet the demands of both communities, however, the remaining funds in Measure M will not cover the cost of building two complete comprehensive high schools.
The Board recognizes that the taxpayers in Rancho Cordova have been paying taxes on Measure M since 2007 without seeing any new schools built. The Board also recognizes that in SFID #3, growth has occurred more rapidly on the Folsom side, while Rancho Cordova's new growth is emerging.
The Board discussed options; the two most prevalent were:
- Build the Mather High School / Morrison Creek Middle School in Rancho Cordova which was Board approved in 2005. (This school was anticipated to be built years ago but was halted due to the Recession).
a. All students in SFID #3 could attend both middle and high schools.
2. Build two high schools in both cities, but in phases, with small communities of students attending at the start, and then work to secure funding for completion through a future bond measure.
Ultimately, a future bond measure will be needed for the many other elementary and secondary schools planned for in SFID #3, however, this is dependent on multiple economic factors that impact the timing of housing starts and area growth that could take several years.
Due to the complexity of the situation, the Board has directed staff to provide further data and demographic information at a future Board Meeting for review.
Further information on this process and the history of school bonds in FCUSD can be found on the links below
To learn more about Folsom Cordova’s SFIDs and School Bonds, please visit our website HERE.