SLCUSD Facilities: A Reflection of Our Community’s Commitment to Education Facilities: Measure D Projects

Thanks to the generosity of the local SLCUSD community, school facilities in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District have continued to improve dramatically, with upgrades that provide teachers and students with modern places to teach and learn, while also providing a sense of community pride. Measure C, a $349 million property tax bond measure passed by voters last November, will provide funding for badly needed security and classroom upgrades for all elementary and middle schools in Morro Bay, Los Osos and San Luis Obispo. These include leaky roofs, outdated classroom technology, inefficient HVAC systems, and disability access needs.

“Our community has entrusted us to spend school bond funds wisely and as promised on much-needed facilities improvements,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Prater. “We understand our role as stewards of our community’s resources and trust and are committed to a transparent bond management process, and together with our Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee, we will continue to demonstrate that this trust is well placed.”

The SLCUSD community has already experienced most of the benefits from passage of the 2014 Measure D school facilities bond (passed with 72% approval). The $177 million bond addresses long-standing facility, technology, and infrastructure needs throughout the District, particularly at San Luis Obispo High and Morro Bay High School. Over the past 7 years, the District has been able to leverage and supplement bond funds through state matching grants, deferred maintenance funds, interest earned on bond funds, and developer fees to turn the $177 million into more than $200 million.

Measure D projects that are completed or near completion can be seen on the chart (right). We invite you to visit our website to see photos and learn more about how school facilities are being transformed throughout our District to benefit students, staff and community.

Morro Bay High Expenditures to date: $71,870,665

Completed Projects: Pool, tennis courts, track and fields, J wing (career technical education building), auto shop, old gym remodel, science wing remodel, quad, new student support center, new gym/wrestling room, band room/agriculture classroom, building B, and infrastructure improvements.

Under Construction: Buildings A and C

San Luis Obispo High Expenditures to date: $118,337,973

Completed Projects: New math building, building 300/career technical education, new gym remodel, old gym remodel/new band room, new pool and fields, new student support center/performing arts space, tennis court renovation, track and bleachers, and added temporary classrooms.

Under Construction: Buildings 100 and quad

Bishop’s Peak Elementary

Expenditures to date: $6,955,280

Completed Projects: New multi-purpose room: sports court, stage area, new kitchen/lunchroom, PE storage area, new student and staff restrooms. New security fencing, new offices, new nursing station, new classroom space, infrastructure upgrades, new fire alarm system, and new asphalt.

Expenditures to date: $5,747,662

Completed Projects: Administrative office remodel and expansion, front of school drop-off area improvements/ landscaping, security fencing, exterior painting campuswide, additional temporary kindergarten classroom, new main play structure, and new asphalt.

Bellvue-Sante Fe Elementary

Expenditures to date: $5,399,298

Completed Projects: Renovation of entire campus: new daylight modular buildings, new restroom building, new classroom layouts, new concrete walkways and landscaping. Main campus building received new paint, lighting, roofing, and new asphalt.

District Phone System

Expenditures to date: $2,479,628

New VOIP phone systems with intercoms were installed at all sites throughout the district.

WiFi

Expenditures to date: $449,583

Wifi drops throughout our school district were added to increase our ability to utilize technology throughout our campuses.

Baywood Elementary

Expenditures to date: $418,726

Completed Projects: New landscaping and security fencing, new sewer lines and connections, new interior walls and doors.

Del Mar Elementary

Expenditures to date: $730,059

Completed Projects: New paint, concrete, and new water lines installed throughout campus, and new playground.

Hawthorne Elementary

Expenditures to date: $187,680

Completed Projects: New playground and playground asphalt.

Monarch Grove Elementary

Expenditures to date: $262,612

Completed Projects: New sewer lines and connections, and some roofs replaced.

Pacheco Elementary

Expenditures to date: $257,406

Completed Projects: Minor roof repair, and new playground installed.

Sinsheimer Elementary Expenditures to date: $432,392

Completed Projects: New paint throughout, new security fencing, some roofs replaced, and new playground structure.

Teach Elementary Expenditures to date: $692,497

Completed Projects: Move to new location, new paint throughout, new eating area, new asphalt, and miscellaneous maintenance projects.

Morro Elementary Expenditures to date: $926,317

Completed Projects: New sewer lines installed, asphalt of parking and play areas replaced.

Sunnyside Elementary

Expenditures to date: $727,937

Completed Projects: New sewer lines installed, asphalt of parking and play areas replaced.

Laguna Middle

Expenditures to date: $50,511

Completed Projects: Office renovations, tennis court resurfacing, and new asphalt throughout.

Los Osos Middle

Expenditures to date: $1,255,583

Completed Projects: New sewer lines and connections, new fire alarm system, new asphalt throughout, and several roofs replaced.

Pacific Beach Continuation

Expenditures to date: $167,531

Completed Projects: New paint and flooring in classrooms, new classroom furniture and technology, and landscaping and walkway improvements. http://measured.slcusd.org http://slcusd.org/about/measure-c

Elementary Athletics— A Truly Unique Approach

Involving children in sports and athletics at an early age provides them with opportunities to engage in physical activity, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and builds self-confidence. In the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, youth athletics are a vital part of the educational experience, offering a wide range of sports and activities to suit every age, interest, and ability level.

High school athletics in the District have long been a point of pride for the local community. To broaden what the District offers for its students, the much-anticipated Elementary Athletics program began this past fall. All ten elementary schools now have the opportunity to participate in a variety of seasonal sports, which creates a more equitable environment for students who otherwise might not have access to outside club sports.

“Our programs happen during the week and on our own school campuses which is much more convenient for our families,” said Marci Beddall, Secondary Teacher on Special Assignment for the SLCUSD. Beddall, who previously was Athletic Director and Head Girls Volleyball Coach at San Luis Obispo High School, said that the program has many other direct benefits as well. “We know that those students who are better engaged in school (athletics or otherwise) are more likely to succeed academically. It gives children another reason to want to do well in school.”

At the elementary school level, students clamor to participate in a variety of sports and activities, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, track, and cross country. Each school competes against other schools in the District, with 300 young athletes participating in the winter sports season alone. These programs are designed to introduce students to the basics of each sport while also promoting physical fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy competition.

The program also provides a unique opportunity for the community to be involved in local schools. For example,

Cal Poly SLO has a program through AmeriCorps that encourages college students to volunteer time in SLCUSD elementary schools in exchange for college tuition assistance. “We had approximately 40 Cal Poly students who committed 450 hours of volunteer time this year,” said Beddall. “Some are coaches, some help in the classroom, some referee and receive instruction on how to do it. This is truly a unique community project.”

The Safe Sports Policy

SLCUSD is serious about ensuring that all students have the ability to participate in our athletic programs in safe, healthy and positive ways. The “Safe Sports Policy” outlines and promotes the District’s safety policies and procedures around athletics so that everyone (students, staff, walk-on coaches, families and volunteers) has clear expectations regarding their roles and responsibilities. It includes guidelines around social media, staff/student contact, and codes of conduct. “I am proud of our district because we aren’t just talking about safety,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Prater. “We are doing concrete things to ensure that each of our student athletes is and feels safe.” For more information about Athletics and the Safe Sports Policy, go to: https://www.slcusd.org/athletics/student-athletes

Career Technical Education Provides 21st Century Skills

The San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) has made it a consistent priority to provide students with unique, yet diverse opportunities to help prepare students for a successful future.

SLCUSD’s comprehensive Career Technical Education Program (CTE) offers a wide range of programs in 28 different fields or pathways, including healthcare, engineering, agriculture, culinary arts, and more. These programs are designed to help students follow various pathways and explore and develop technical skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen career paths.

“We live in a special community where opportunities like these to provide students with such specialized education are extremely unique,” said Marci Beddall, Secondary Teacher on Special Assignment. “We have 28 different pathways between our two comprehensive high schools, and kids in these programs can graduate high school and go on to college or go directly into the

job market if they choose.”

The SLCUSD’s commitment to CTE is evident in the numerous awards and recognitions the District has received. In 2020, the District was named a California Distinguished District for its CTE programs, which were recognized for their focus on equity and access for all students. The District’s CTE programs have also been recognized by organizations such as the California Partnership for the 21st Century.

Thanks to the community’s passage of the Measure D Facilities Bond in 2014, SLCUSD has been able to build and maintain world class facilities to house CTE programs at the high schools. “Our CTE facilities are incredible,” said Ryan Pinkerton, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. “These new facilities have instilled a sense of pride in our students, staff and community.”

Still, Beddall understands the importance of educators who prepare students with these skills everty day. “Our CTE teachers have specialized credentials through the State of California, and they are all required to have industry experience. While our facilities are incredible and the programs are carefully crafted, it’s the people, our amazing educators that make it go.”

“Farm to School” Model Gives Students High Quality Meal Options

You’ve probably heard of “farm to table” as a reference to restaurants that source their fresh ingredients from local farms, but how about “farm to school?” That is exactly what is happening at all 15 school sites in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, as a way to provide all students with nutritious, high quality, local food so they are better ready to learn and grow.

In 2017, the District intentionally shifted its focus to farm to school education and procurement of local foods. The Food and Nutrition Services program fostered relationships with local farmers, ranchers, bakeries, and fishermen to help students understand where their food comes from while also providing fresh, high quality school food.

Traditional school lunch programs rely heavily on processed meals that are low in nutritional value, and are shipped from central distribution centers. The Food and Nutrition Services program has received multiple recognitions, including the coveted Golden Bell and Magna awards. The program is based on an “eat local” and “farm to school” model, resulting in fresh, nutritious meals that include plant-based options and student-created food. The “from scratch” meals include things like local Cal Poly cheeses and fresh-made pastas.

In addition, the program frequently brings local farmers and food producers to the school sites for educational opportunities, enabling students to learn more about their food culture and food system which fosters a healthy relationship with food in later life. When combined with a complementary curriculum, students learn real-world applicable skills. And by shifting the mindset about what a quality school meal program can be, freezer-burned chicken nuggets have made way for fresh, locally grown food products that kids actually want to eat. Bon appetit!

All Means All — SLCUSD’s Commitment to Equity

“All Means All.” These three small words work together in a very powerful and purposeful way, and are what guide the work of all employees in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District. The District’s deeply seeded work in Equity and Inclusion is there to ensure that all students have access to the same opportunities and resources, regardless of their background or identity. SLCUSD has prioritized equity work in recent years, recognizing the importance of creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

“How do we help to create inclusive schools in our community? With lots of professional development,” said Rick Mayfield, SLCUSD’s Director of Elementary Learning and Achievement. The District brings in professional trainers including the Equity Institute (provided by the Association of California School Administrators) and Gender Spectrum, which assists educators to talk with students about gender in healthy, constructive ways including gender stereotypes.

“We want to make sure that this work gets into every classroom so that teachers have the tools they need and are empowered to impact kids every day. We create culturally relevant classrooms so that all kids feel safe, seen, and heard, and feel like they are a vibrant part of the community.”

Student voice and using data to drive these conversations are critical to this process. The Youth-Truth Survey is administered to students in grades 3-12. The annual survey provides real data regarding equity and other issues affecting children and youth, and helps to inform the committees’ recommendations. The Superintendent’s Student Senate gives energy to the survey process (see more information regarding Student Senate on back page).

The District also understands that schools do not operate in a vacuum, and that engaging the community in this work sends an important message to its students. Maggie Torres, Project Manager with Collaboration Business Consulting in San Luis Obispo, is part of the District’s Common Ground Advisory Task Force, which includes staff, students and community stakeholders. The committee is charged with looking at issues that can occur in the schools and how to handle those issues from a community perspective. SLCUSD also has its own Equity Team made up of staff and community members who are committed to promoting equity and inclusion in the district. Torres said that she is impressed by the level of alignment among all the groups and initiatives that put everyone on the same page with the goal of moving the district forward.

“So much of this work provides all adults in schools (not just teachers) with action steps and strategies on how to interact with students so that they feel safe and feel a sense of belonging. School is a place where kids spend a majority of their day – and they need to feel safe. We also value involving our community in this effort to make them a part of the conversations to give the community and our families a voice.”