Voters pass three school bond measures in San Ysidro, but state matching funds are still a long way off

San Ysidro Elementary School District leaders are celebrating the passage of three local bond measures. But they won’t know anything about government matching funds for years.

In November, voters approved nearly $150 million in bonds for the district. Most of it will be used to fund improvements at Ocean View Hills Elementary School and Vista Del Mar Middle School in the eastern part of the district.

Thousands of homes are under construction in nearby Otay Mesa.

“We are already seeing the impact of these housing developments within our neighborhood boundaries,” said Jose Iniguez, the district’s assistant superintendent.

Iniguez expects about 4,000 new students from the region over the next decade.

“We assume that at least one, maybe two schools will have to be built in the next five to 10 years,” he said.

In California there is no funding for school construction state and local bonds accepted by the voters. In November of this year, California voters passed Proposition 2. It allows the state to do this Borrow $8.5 billion to repair K-12 schools.

The districts must first raise local funds for the construction costs Applying for state fundingsaid Marilyn Adrianzen, the district’s executive director.

“We have to pre-finance the projects and then apply,” she said. “And it takes eight to ten years until a result, an answer comes from the state.”

Iniguez said submitting these applications takes a lot of work, especially in small districts with fewer staff.

“For a small district like us — Marilyn and I wear so many hats — we literally have to make time to do this,” he said. “The system is not perfect.”

Iniguez said the lack of permanent construction financing makes planning difficult.

“When you think about facilities, they lose value every year … from wear and tear, from children’s use, from the elements, from the sun,” he said. “It is a constant and secure expense, but funding is not guaranteed. And that’s what’s so frustrating.”

Adrianzen said that the projects would initially be financed through local bonds adopted in 2020 are just beginning.

Bonds passed in half of the 16 counties where measures were voted on this fall. In addition to San Ysidro, bonds were also issued in San Marcos, Warner Springs, Sweetwater, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Lemon Grove and South Bay counties.

Bond measures failed in Bonsall, Ramona, Valley Center, Fallbrook, Alpine, Cajon Valley, Dehesa and Santee.