District Bond Projects Almost Complete After Construction of School Playgrounds

The is in the final stages of its Proposition M construction projects with the completion of new playgrounds at 16 elementary schools.

“I want the community to know what their money was used for and the improvements that were made,” Superintendent Brian Marshall said.

According to district officials, the district has $1.4 million remaining from the more than $67 million it raised to repair and renovate its schools.

District voters passed the $44 million bond measure on March 5, 2002. Proposition M provided funding for new classrooms, band rooms and improvements to infrastructure and school facilities, according to a 2003 report by the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, a seven-member advisory panel that monitors bond spending. The district also received state and federal funds, as well as interest. 

The district renovated classrooms, replaced water lines and sewer lines and installed hard wiring and wireless communications systems, among other improvements.

Marshall said Proposition M allowed for the replacement of outdated playgrounds, some of which dated back to the 1950s.

“Part of Prop. M was to modernize and update the campuses, and one of the things that was really a glaring deficiency was the playgrounds that our children were using,” he said.

New playgrounds were constructed at 16 of the district’s 17 elementary schools. Northmont Elementary School had already used a grant to purchase a new structure.

"What’s nice about the playgrounds is that it’s something that directly impacts and influences the learning environment at each of our elementary schools," said Jerry Lecko, the chairman of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. "All of that stuff impacts the environment of the kids, but they’re not aware of it, whereas the playgrounds they see everyday. To see the smiles on their faces is really, really great."

The schools were given four designs to choose from. Students helped decide which design was selected, said Chris Benker, director of maintenance, operations and facilities. Some schools held campuswide votes and others allowed its student representatives to choose. 

Fifth-graders Brady and Elizabeth, who are both student council presidents at , said they enjoy their new playground. 

“I used to not want to go down to recess, but now I have something to do,” Elizabeth said. “We play down there, we talk to each other and it’s something we can have fun on.”

The campus has three playgrounds—one for kindergarten classes, one for first- and second-graders, and the new one, which is used by older grades.

“There was nothing to do down there except maybe run on the field,” said Brady of the old play area.

Principal Eileen Cotter explained that the children were so excited when the new playground was completed that the school initially had to rotate the use of the equipment so all of the students wouldn’t be on the structure at once.

“They love it,” said Cotter. “It keeps kids engaged here. They’re just playing like kids should play.”

The district last year spent about $1.2 million on new equipment. The new play areas are constructed on a soft, poured-in-place fall surface instead of sand.

In addition to safety, the new structures also promote wellness and health because the old structures weren’t getting a lot of use, Marshall said.

“Kids are out there engaging in activities, burning off some energy, keeping themselves fit,” Marshall said. “It all translates into a well-rounded child, which is a better educated child.”

The district started replacing the playground equipment last March, and all 16 structures were completed in late October. No major construction was conducted while the children were on campus in order to keep students safe and not disrupt learning, district officials said.

“As a parent, I can really appreciate the fact that the district took a stance that they would try to do most of this work during the summer or during breaks,” Lecko said.

Now that Proposition M construction projects are almost completed, officials are questioning “the next step” for district modernization.

Lecko had two children attend schools in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. His first child is about to graduate from college and his second child is about to graduate from high school.

“The foundation that they got in their elementary grades through this district was very, very good, and it prepared them very well for the future,” he said. “Because I can see what my kids are going through now, the elementary education and the foundation that our young kids, our future, is going to get is vital. Our kids in this district get promoted after eighth grade into other districts, and we need to know what they need to be prepared for.”

Before the district makes any new plans, however, officials intend to use the remaining $1.4 million on improving access to the playgrounds for disabled students. Carpet will also be replaced at three school sites. Benker said work is expected to be completed at the end of this year or the beginning of summer 2012.

Editor's Note: Students' last names were withheld at the request of Superintendent Brian Marshall.