How SMMUSD Hopes To Spend $495M In Measure QS Funds
SANTA MONICA, CA — Voters in the Nov. 5 election will decide on a $495 million bond measure that Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District officials plan to use to upgrade and build new school buildings, projects they say are necessary to help prepare students for the modern world.
Measure QS is a $495 million bond measure that would increase property taxes by 3 cents per $100 of assessed value — in other words, $28.70 per $100,000 of assessed value. It would raise $28 million annually to pay for repairs, upgrades and new construction at SMMUSD schools within Santa Monica, according to district officials.
"By investing in the modernization of our school buildings, we have the opportunity to continue to create world-class 21st-century learning spaces that foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking," district officials said.
Measure QS requires approval by 55 percent of voters in order to take effect.
A similar SMMUSD initiative, Measure MM, is being considered by Malibu voters. Ballots mailed to voters in both cities erroneously include both measures QS and MM. Only votes cast by Santa Monica residents for Measure QS and by Malibu residents for Measure MM will count, according to the district.
Read more: Patch's Santa Monica 2024 voter guide.
Here's information about how the district is planning to spend Measure QS bond proceeds, with information provided by SMMUSD:
Grant Elementary School: library, garden and early-learning modernization
Cost: $19.2 million Planned construction start: December 2024 Planned occupancy: 2025
The school's library will be expanded to 6,300 square feet and include reading areas for early learners and upper primary students, plus a new makerspace classroom. Exterior courtyards will be transformed into outdoor learning areas.
The early learning project plans for the modernization of four small classrooms for use as three new transitional kindergarten classrooms. The outdoor play area will be expanded to support the increase in 4-year-olds.
Grant Elementary School: new classroom building
Cost: $43.2 million Planned construction start: June 2025
Plans call for the construction of a new 11,000-square-foot building that includes six classrooms: four will be general classrooms, one will be for art instruction and one will be for science.
The project also includes an 8,500-square-foot landscaped outdoor learning area. A rooftop deck will be used for project-based learning and gardening activities, as well as serving as a circulation path for future construction projects.
Roosevelt Elementary School: new library and early childhood learning building
Cost: $48 million Planned construction start: summer 2025
The project includes a new entry area, a new library building and a garden situated in the front of the Montana Avenue school.
Adjacent to the library will be three transitional kindergarten classrooms, four kindergarten classrooms, teacher collaboration areas and age-aligned play yards.
The structures will total 17,000 square feet.
Franklin Elementary School: new early childhood learning building, field and parking
Cost: $48 million Planned construction start: summer 2026
Planned is a new 13,000-square-foot early learning hub consisting of three transitional kindergarten classrooms, four kindergarten classrooms, a teacher collaboration space and age-aligned play yards.
The project will also reorient the playfield and playground areas for upper-level students.
Existing satellite campus structures will be demolished to make way for a new staff parking lot off Montana Avenue.
SMASH/Muir: innovation lab, administration and parking modernization
Cost: $16 million Planned completion: August 2025
Amid an ongoing project to repair water intrusion and prevent future issues at the campus, officials are planning other upgrades.
The plan calls for security and administration areas to be relocated to the front of the campus, transforming the existing administration office into a learning innovation lab and reconstructing the parking lot for safer student drop off and pick up.
John Adams Middle: new STEM building
Cost: $49.2 million Planned construction start: summer 2025
Planned is a 34,000-square-foot science, technology, engineering and math building that will replace the old science building. It will include seven lab classrooms, an engineering lab, a makerspace, common areas and outdoor learning space.
Lincoln Middle School: 8th Grade STEM building modernization
Cost: $28.8 million Planned construction start: summer 2025
The current shop building would be transformed into an 18,000-square-foot 8th-Grade hub that will include an innovation lab, project-based learning lab, two science labs and five general education classrooms. The courtyard will also be redesigned to facilitate outdoor learning.
Santa Monica High School: new student services/student center building
Cost: $104 million Planned construction start: summer 2026
The obsolete business building would be replaced with a 45,000-square-foot student center hub that will house clubs, the college and career center, restorative justice, health and wellness, dedicated classrooms, a black box theater, and support facilities.
McKinley Elementary School: new elevator, learning garden and cafeteria/kitchen modernization
Cost: $3.4 million Planned construction start: after fall 2026
The project aims to replace the aging elevator with a new elevator tower, modernize the student dining area and install garden boxes for project-based learning opportunities.
Will Rogers Learning Community: innovation labs modernization
Cost: $9.1 million Planned construction start:
After the under-construction early childhood building is complete, the project would transform the two existing kindergarten classrooms into 1,600-square-foot innovation labs that will have access to a shared 4,000-square-foot courtyard for outdoor learning.
Edison Language Academy: drop off/pick up improvements
The new Edison campus is bounded by two narrow streets. To improve student safety, a dedicated drop off and pick up area would be constructed along Kansas Avenue.
Other projects
The district has future plans for safety upgrades at schools including electronic locks, gates and fencing.
Future technology improvements include upgrades to instructional space with new equipment and network upgrades.
Once the new SMASH campus opens in August 2025, Olympic High School will move back to the Obama Center and the project-based learning cohort is moving to Santa Monica High School in August 2024. Those changes will also for additional space at the Obama Center, which could allow an expansion of preschool and special education at the site.
More information about the planned Measure QS projects is available on the SMMUSD website.
