Facilities Planning FAQs
Facilities Planning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Updating PRSD School Facilities
How are schools in the Pleasant Ridge School District performing?
The Pleasant Ridge School District (PRSD) provides over 1,500 students with a high-quality education, preparing them for high school and beyond. Our success is rooted in our dedicated teachers, staff, and parents’ commitment to developing well-rounded, lifelong learners. High-achieving schools that nurture successful students improve the quality of life in our community and protect the property value of our homes.
What is the current state of PRSD classrooms and other school facilities?
We’re proud of the high-quality education in Pleasant Ridge schools, but our schools are over 60 years old and need repairs and upgrades to meet current academic and safety standards. Basic repairs, such as repairing and replacing leaky roofs and dry rot infrastructure, updating HVAC and electrical systems, and improving classrooms and other school facilities, will allow the District to continue providing all students with access to rigorous and engaging instruction in high-quality facilities. Schools built decades ago were designed for a different era of education and to outdated safety and instructional standards.
Additionally, traffic around our schools is not only inconvenient to local residents, but it is also unsafe for our students and our community. Reconfiguring the entrance and exit areas at our schools will help reduce traffic issues and improve student safety.
What are the options for repairing and upgrading aging local school facilities?
The facility improvements needed in our neighborhood schools are far beyond the scope of PRSD’s maintenance budget. District leaders continue to do everything they can to fund improvements to classrooms and other school facilities, including using capital reserves in the PRSD budget and accessing State funds, which often require a local financial match, which can be provided by a local school improvement bond measure.
Locally controlled funding would provide Pleasant Ridge School District access to state matching funds that we would otherwise not qualify for, maximizing the impact of the community’s investment in our schools. Funding from a potential bond measure must be used to repair and improve PRSD schools and cannot be taken away by the State or used for other purposes. A bond measure would require a detailed project list showing how bond monies would be used, and an independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits to ensure funds are used as promised.
Are there other sources of funds for facilities projects?
No, the State does not provide dedicated funding for school facility improvements. The limited state funding for facility upgrades requires local matching funds, usually provided by a local school improvement measure. Locally controlled funding would provide Pleasant Ridge School District access to state matching funds that our district would otherwise not qualify for, maximizing the impact of the community’s investment in our schools.
Has PRSD already passed a school improvement bond measure?
No. In 2024, PRSD placed Measure D on the ballot, but only received 53+% support, slightly below the 55% required for approval. Another year has passed with little impact made to update our schools, and basic repairs will become more costly down the road. No decisions have been made at this time, but should the District decide to place another bond measure on the ballot, it will only ask the community for the amount needed to maximize the state matching funds available to the District.
How can I find out more?
The District welcomes your feedback and questions as we consider our options to improve PRSD classrooms and school facilities. To share your opinions, priorities, or to ask questions, please contact Superintendent Gregg Motarjeme at [email protected].