Schools
San Carlos Schools Looking for Space
Dr. Craig Baker, the Superintendent of the San Carlos School District, presented plans for easing the overcrowding of the city schools on Monday night.
There are about 3,300 students who attend school within the San Carlos city limits. That's a growth of about 300 students in the three years Dr. Craig Baker, the Superintendent of the San Carlos School District, has been on the job.
San Carlos is projected to grow by another 600 students over the next four years. The district is already over capacity by 10 percent.
"We are one of the lowest funded school districts in San Mateo County," Baker said. "We need new rooms, new schools. We need tech, science and computer labs and we need to repair and upgrade throughout the system."
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One of the proposals Baker made to the city council Monday night was the possibility of floating a bond measure in the November election.
"We're playing with it," Baker said. "We have not decided with certainty."
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The money would be used to build, replace and demolish buildings at both Central Middle School and Terra Linda Middle School.
The school board has spent significant time exploring the possibility, including commissioning a study in March to understand the feasibility of such a measure.
The study revealed overwhelming support for the idea. Data taken from the San Carlos School District website showed:
* 71.6% of voters have a favorable opinion on whether SCSD is providing quality education for kids.
* When asked at the beginning of the survey if they would vote for such a measure, 62.3% said probably or definitely yes.
* Almost all of the potential features of the measure got significant support, including protecting quality of instruction, making needed repairs, upgrading classrooms and technology, and making safety improvements.
Baker said a public road would be added through the Central Middle School sight, with a large parking area separating K-4 from 5-8 buildings.
He further indicated that nothing will be built at Terra Linda Middle School until there is better access.
The bond measure must be submitted by Aug. 10 to appear on the ballot.
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