Glendale school board approves third use of Measure S bond funds

Since voters approved Glendale Unified’s $270 million Measure S bond in 2011, school officials have embarked on an ambitious campaign to upgrade aging campuses, do away with run-down, single-classroom bungalows and build a technological infrastructure fit for the 21st century.

Five years later, they’re not done yet.

Next month, Glendale school officials will tap into another $70 million, following the school board’s approval to issue more bond funds last month.

“We are very excited about the improvements to our community schools made possible through Measure S,” said Armina Gharpetian, board president, in an email.

The Glendale school board issued its first $54 million in August 2011, followed by $70 million more in August 2014.

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Since the first issuance of bonds, crews have installed solar panels at more than half of the district’s 30 schools, renovated science labs, installed high-tech security cameras at each campus and turned the basement of the school district’s headquarters on Jackson Street into a technology hub.

College View School — a campus that serves students with special needs, many of whom are in wheelchairs — was torn down and rebuilt from the ground up with $26 million in Measure S funds.

After board members approved issuing $70 million in 2014, those dollars were matched with state grants to replace bungalows at 10 campuses with new one- or two-story buildings, as part of the state’s Overcrowding Relief Grant program.

The remaining six schools slated to get new buildings are Lincoln, Fremont, La Crescenta, Jefferson, John Muir and Verdugo Woodlands elementary schools.

Aside from major upgrades, the bond money allowed crews to freshen up schools with new paint or install new heating-and-air conditioning units.

This time around, the latest $70 million issuance will pay for more solar panels at schools, take care of deferred maintenance projects and cover technology purchases through 2023, Gharpetian said.

School officials plan to issue another $38 million in 2018 and $38 million more in 2020.

Combined, the $76 million left of the $270 million has not yet been earmarked, Gharpetian said.

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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan

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