Facilities Planning

Located in the beautiful Sierra Foothills of Nevada County, Pleasant Ridge School District (PRSD) serves the communities of Auburn, Lake of the Pines, Grass Valley, and Alta Sierra. The District provides an outstanding educational experience to over 1,500 students at two TK-5 elementary schools and one intermediate school for 6th- 8th grades, while also working in conjunction with our K-12 charter academy. We strive to provide a safe and engaging learning environment where students have access to strong systems of support for building academic capabilities and valuable life skills to become productive citizens in a constantly changing global society.

Repairs and Upgrades Needed in PRSD Schools
PRSD has been providing high-quality education to local students for over 60 years. We take pride in our schools and believe they are part of what makes our area a great place to live. While our schools have been well-maintained over the years, many of the classrooms no longer meet current building, safety, or educational standards. Essential repairs and upgrades are now needed.

Over the past year, PRSD has updated its Facility Improvement Plan to determine priority repairs and improvements for our local schools. This plan is intended to be completed over the next ten years and includes projects such as repairing and replacing leaky roofs and dry rot infrastructure, updating heating and cooling systems, improving classrooms and other school facilities to meet safety and educational standards, and reconfiguring school entrances to reduce traffic issues and improve student safety.

 

Local Funding for School Improvements
While no decisions have been made at this time, the Pleasant Ridge School District’s governing board is considering placing a $19.8 million school improvement bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to repair and upgrade our local schools. The potential measure is projected to cost taxpayers approximately $22.50 per $100,000 assessed (not market) value, annually, while bonds are outstanding. If approved by local voters, funds from a bond measure could:

• Repair or replace leaky roofs and failing heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems
• Weather-proof schools to avoid mold and dry rot
• Upgrade old fire alarms and emergency communication systems
• Improve school and student safety and security with safer pickup and drop-off areas, modernized door locks, and security cameras

Mandatory Fiscal Accountability
Funding from a potential bond measure would require strict fiscal provisions, including:

• All funds must be used to repair and improve Pleasant Ridge School District classrooms and facilities
• No funds can be taken away by the State or used for other purposes, including administrators’ salaries or pensions
• A detailed project list showing how funds are expected to be used
• An independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits

Additionally, locally controlled funding would provide PRSD access to state matching funds that our district would otherwise not qualify for, maximizing the impact of the community’s investment in our schools.

Your Input is Welcome
We welcome your input as PRSD considers options to update and improve our schools. To share your opinions and priorities or to ask questions, please contact Superintendent Gregg Motarjeme at [email protected].