Empower Hour

Empower Hour Will Take a Short Summer Vacation and Resume Meeting September 21st

School Superintendent John Rogers addressed the early morning group gathered at the Best Western Colony Hall about the School Improvement Measure the Board of Trustees will be considering a resolution to place this measure on the November 2010 ballot at their June 29 meeting. The School Improvement Measure would replace the 1977 AUSD Tax Override that expires in 2011-12 school year.

The current Tax Override currently generates $97 per $100,000 of assessed value. The new School Improvement Measure would reduce the amount to $60 per $100,000 assessed value.

Bond proceeds would be used to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, acquire, equip, rebuild and furnish the District classrooms, restrooms and facilities at all twelve school sites.

Some projects included in the measure are;
•    Repair, renovate aging classrooms and school facilities
•    Renovate all restrooms throughout the district
•    Repair and replace roofs
•    Meet handicap accessibility requirements in restrooms and classrooms
•    Upgrade outdated heating and cooling systems
•    Expand the vocational education programs such as welding, auto agribusiness, culinary, medical, health technology and construction trades
•    Construct a new science, technology, engineering and math facility at the High School
•    Repurpose a building to become a cafeteria at the High School
•    Construct a Visual and Performing Arts Center at the High School
•    Upgrade playfield through out the District.

All of these worthy projects would drive business to Atascadero businesses and trades and could be a huge stimulus to our local economy, not to mention providing a better atmosphere for learning. Our future depends on our youth and the quality education they receive. Atascadero needs to support our schools to maintain the quality of life and property values we all enjoy.

President/CEO Joanne Main welcomed School Superintendent John Rogers to the Empower Hour held in June. John Rogers shared conceptual drawings for the many projects that could be included in the School Improvement Measure the School Board Trustees considered placing on the November 2010 ballot.