Measure R would fund badly needed additional MUSD schools

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Projections of continued growth in Menifee requiring additional school facilities has resulted in the placement of a $205 million bond measure on the November ballot.

Measure R, sponsored by the Menifee Union School District, would help facilitate a plan to build three new elementary schools and one new middle school in the next few years, according to the ballot description. A fourth elementary school would be added by tearing down and rebuilding the old Menifee Elementary School on Garbani Road, according to Marc Bommarito, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services with MUSD.

Bommarito says the district has tried to minimize the number of portable classrooms used because of overcrowding, but that these would be more commonplace on crowded school campuses without the funding Measure R would provide.

“If the bond passes, we’ll continue to build beautiful new schools like we have,” Bommarito said. “If it fails, the next step will be more portables on tighter campuses. The question is, how do we want to house all those kids?”

Measure R would be one of three funding sources for the building projects. They would also be funded by Community Facilities Districts (special assessment districts where taxes fund public infrastructure) and matching state taxes. The annual cost of Measure R to property owners would be $30 per $100,000 of County assessed value (not market value).

Menifee Elementary School opened in 1952 and closed in 2008. In recent years, part of the buildings have become the home of the Menifee Valley Boys & Girls Club. Two other classrooms are currently occupied by the Menifee Valley Historical Association. Both groups have been notified that they will have to relocate, Bommarito said.

“We’ve also used some of those rooms for maintenance and nutrition services storage,” Bommarito said. “We’ve ripped holes in the walls for offices. We’ll have to tear down the current site and rebuild.”

MUSD has an agreement with the Boys & Girls Club to run after-school programs on several campuses. Bommarito said he hopes that program can be expanded to accommodate the Boys and Girls Club in the future.

Meanwhile, the focus is on preparing for the increase in enrollment with the best facilities possible. That includes repairing and maintaining existing structures, such as improving disability access; repairing or replacing old roofing; and removing asbestos and lead paint.