by Garth Meyer
A $278 million Redondo Unified School District facilities bond will go before voters Nov. 5. The school board voted in July to move ahead after months of study, including six special meetings.
The bond’s main elements are $60 – $70 million to tear down the two-room “bingo building” at the high school, in favor of a new structure with six classrooms for career and technical education, and replace 23 portable classrooms; $21-$22 million for safety and security upgrades such as fencing, cameras, new P.A. systems, alarms and controlled-access buzzer systems; $50 million for technology like cabling, software and increased power supply; $9-$10 million for new playground equipment and fall protection mats; $7–$8 million for turf replacement; and the remaining $115 million for general modernization, from water and sewer systems to windows, roofing and flooring (much of which is eligible for state matching grants).
The cost ranges above represent estimates from 2025-2029, depending on when the projected work would be done.
The general obligation bond would cost taxpayers $29 per $100,000 in assessed property value.
“We don’t have a funding source otherwise for these facilities,” said School Boardmember Dan Elder.
Also on the November ballot is a statewide schools bond which would only take effect in Redondo Beach if the local school district passes its own bond. The state money would come from matching funds.
“It’s also worth noting that while Measure S will be projected to cost $29 per $100,000 in assessed property value, the actual cost will depend on a variety of factors, including interest rates at the time of bond sale, which are thankfully coming down,” Elder said. “… If interest rates drop, we would likely refinance the bonds to a lower rate, which then reduces the rate taxpayers pay, as we’ve done with previous bonds.”
Recent RBUSD bonds were passed in 2012 (technology, solar, new classrooms, Chromebooks), and 2008 (new gyms, a new administration building). ER
