Rim of the World Unified School District
Frequently Asked Questions About Updating Aging Schools

How are our Rim of the World schools doing? 
Rim of the World Unified School District (ROWUSD) and our mountain community are dedicated to ensuring each student achieves academic and individual excellence by engaging all students in meaningful programs that meet the highest educational and ethical standards within a caring, collaborative learning environment. All students will be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens. Our district serves nearly 3,000 students across three elementary schools, one middle school, a comprehensive high school, a continuation high school, and a virtual academy.

What challenges do our Rim of the World schools face?
Our schools were built 50+ years ago and need to be repaired and upgraded. Old plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems need to be replaced, and classrooms and science labs need to be updated to meet current student safety and educational standards. As temperatures rise, classrooms get too hot to teach in and ventilation systems are not sufficient to ensure healthy, clean air for students and educators.

How does the Rim of the World Unified School District plan to address these challenges? 
To complete needed repairs and improvements across our community schools, the ROWUSD Governing Board has voted to place a $74 million dollar bond measure, Measure E, on the November 2024 ballot. Measure E will help ROWUSD qualify for state matching funds, which would otherwise go to other districts. 

How specifically would Measure E update aging classrooms and schools? 
If approved by local voters, funding from Measure E would be used to:

• Improve school safety and security systems
• Repair deteriorating roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems
• Update heating and cooling systems and remove asbestos and lead pipes where found
• Update classrooms and science labs
• Support quality academics in science, math, engineering, arts, and other skilled trades

How do we know funds from Measure E would be spent wisely? 
By law, Measure E would require accountability protections, including:

• All funds would be controlled locally for ROWUSD schools only and could not be taken away by the State
• An independent citizens' oversight committee and mandatory annual audits would ensure all funds are spent as voters intended
• A detailed project list outlining the specific use of funds would be required
• No funds could be used for administrators’ salaries

How much would Measure E cost? 
The annual cost of Measure E is estimated to be $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value (not market value) per year for as long as bonds are outstanding, or about $81 per year for the typical homeowner. Assessed value is determined by the San Bernardino County Assessor and is often much closer to the original purchase price of the home than to the current market value.

Would all Measure E funds benefit our schools in Rim of the World Unified School District? 
Yes. All Measure E funds would be locally controlled and would benefit ROWUSD community schools. No funding could be taken away by the State or used for other purposes. 

I don’t have children attending local schools. How does this impact me?
Even if you do not have children attending our local schools, supporting Measure E is a wise investment, good schools improve quality of life in the community and protect the value of homes.

Which local schools would benefit from funding from Measure E?
Measure E would provide funding to complete repairs and updates at all schools in ROWUSD, and each school will get its fair share.

Is there any other way to maintain and improve our schools? 
Our district has very few options when it comes to funding the necessary repairs and updates that our schools need. Redirecting funds in the current budget would take resources out of our classrooms and away from our students. Measure E would provide the funding needed to fix and improve school facilities to ensure we can continue to provide a safe, modern learning environment for all local students.

How much does the District spend a year on maintaining our schools?
The District is required to spend 3% of the budget on maintenance, but that’s not enough to repair and modernize local schools. Each year the District exceeds the required 3% of the budget to maintain schools, but this takes funds away from other budget items.

Did the District pass a bond in 2008? Hasn’t ROWUSD been trying to pass a bond for a while?
Our district last passed a bond in 2008 known as Measure W.  Measure W received 62.62% yes vote, and provided $23,420,000 in locally controlled funds to:

• Re-roof Charles-Hoffman, Grandview, Lake Arrowhead and Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, Mary P. Henck Intermediate School and Rim of the World High School
• Modernize Charles-Hoffman, Grandview, Lake Arrowhead and Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, Mary P. Henck Intermediate School, Rim of the World High School and Lake Gregory Education Center
• Pave Charles-Hoffman and Grandview Elementary Schools
• Remove hazardous materials at Charles Hoffman Elementary School, Lake Arrowhead Elementary School, Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, Mary P. Henck Intermediate School and Rim of the World High School

However, significant upgrades and improvements are still needed at our older schools and are beyond what can be accomplished by our maintenance team and by our regular maintenance budget. ROWSD attempted to pass a bond measure in 2020, but it failed. Since that time, our District has taken several steps to meet the needs of our students and community, even during tough times.

Could selling surplus property provide enough funding to address these needs?
In the last two years, the District has worked with community members and our committees to plan the best path forward for our District.  We were able to sell the old district office, and are now utilizing those funds to fix the High School roof, which was already in need of repairs before the roof had sustained damage after the snowstorms last year. In addition, we are awaiting the final sale of the VOE and have been working on the sale of Grandview. 

Even if both of these properties were to sell, it would only provide us with an additional $5.65 which is not sufficient to meet the needs our older schools face and is not guaranteed to sell at that amount. Our District has over $112 million in need, including $35 million needed to update our schools and put in air conditioning. We need Measure E to help provide the funds needed to update our schools and enable us to be eligible for state matching funds – stretching our dollars even further. 

Why is the District office at Lake Greggory Elementary? 
Prior to the sale of the District office, there was a committee that helped decide the best location for District administrative staff. Several locations were considered and evaluated, however, during that process, it was determined that the best placement would be at Lake Greggory Elementary. 

When would Measure E appear on the ballot?
The ROWUSD Governing Board has voted to place Measure E on the November 2024 ballot.

What level of support is required to pass Measure E?
At least 55% of those voters who cast a ballot on Measure E must vote "Yes" for approval.

Are senior exemptions available?
By state law, no exemptions may be provided for bond measures. However, the total cost of bond measures is based on the assessed value of a home, not the market value. The longer a home has been owned, the lower the assessed value because it is based on the original purchase price. Typically, older homeowners who have owned their homes the longest pay the least for bond measures.

How can I learn more?
As we continue to prepare for the future of our local schools, we would like to hear your thoughts. To learn more please visit the Bond Planning Page. If you have questions or feedback you would like to share, please reach out to Jenny Haberlin.