Frequently Asked Questions
What is Measure M?
Measure M is a local school bond measure to upgrade and renovate local school facilities. It will provide $919 million to invest in updated classroom equipment, science and classroom technology, and libraries for our children. It will also allow local schools to replace leaking roofs and outdated, aging, and deteriorating portables with permanent classrooms and repair classrooms.
Why is Measure M Necessary?
As a top school district, with 41 National Merit Scholars in 2023 and seven current California Distinguished Schools, Fremont Unified School District has achieved great things for our kids with the little resources it has. As one of the lowest funded school districts in Alameda County, many of our schools' classrooms need urgent repairs and upgrades the district cannot currently address.
Voting Yes on Measure M will provide modern, permanent classroom space for all students and student programs, significantly enhancing the quality of education in science, technology, engineering, art, and math programs. Additionally, this vote ensures our students have access to the same high-quality education as other students in the region.
Does Measure M Include Safeguards Around How the Money Can be Spent?
Yes! Measure M is about improving Fremont schools for our children and fiscal accountability.
Every penny will go to supporting our Fremont schools and cannot be taken by politicians and special interests in Sacramento. No money can be spent on administrators’ salaries. Measure M has been placed on the ballot to address the most critical needs while providing strict accountability, including:
- An independent citizen bond oversight committee
- Public disclosure of all money spent
- Annual Audits and Reports
How Will Measure M Funds be Used to Benefit Local Students?
It's a well-researched fact that the quality of school facilities significantly impacts student achievement. Each project is designed to help support safe schools and healthy learning environments for our students across the district, such as:
- Providing updated equipment for classrooms, science and classroom technology, and libraries
- Replacing aging and leaking roofs
- Replacing outdated, aging, and deteriorating portables with permanent classrooms
- Repairing and updating classrooms and classroom technology to current educational standards
Additionally, the maintenance of safe schools and healthy learning environments for our students will allow Fremont Unified School District to continue to recruit and retain quality teachers and educational staff to support our children’s learning and growth.
How Will My Neighborhood School Benefit?
The school district conducted a comprehensive facility assessment. Assessments have been conducted for each school — in every neighborhood of the community. Over the past year alone, Fremont Unified School District has held numerous community, school site, and parent meetings and received over 1,700 pieces of feedback from the community to inform their long range facilities plan, which Measure M funds will help pay for.
You can see Fremont Unified School District’s projects for your neighborhood schools here.
Can’t the District Find the Resources it Needs by Cutting Administration and Waste?
The school district has already cut administration to the minimum required to keep students safe, deliver a basic education, and operate the District in an efficient manner. Since 2007-08 the District has absorbed more than $95 million in State cuts to school funding. The types of repairs and need for renovation proposed in the facility bond measure would be impossible to fund in the District’s current fiscal climate.
Don’t Developer Fees Pay for School Construction?
Developer fees only partially pay for a part of the cost of new schools. School districts are legally authorized to collect standard school construction fees of $3.20 per square feet for residential development and $0.51 per square foot for commercial development. These fees simply do not generate enough revenue to build new schools and make necessary upgrades and repairs to existing schools.
If I Don’t Have Kids in School How Would I Benefit From Measure M?
Whether or not you have school-age children, supporting quality education is a wise investment. Good schools protect our quality of life and our property values. Moreover, Measure M ensures that large property owners and large businesses pay their fair share so average homeowners and renters don't shoulder the entire burden.
It's our collective responsibility to invest in our children's future. No one else will do it for us, but with strict accountability, we can ensure that every dollar is wisely spent.
What is Support Fremont Schools?
Support Fremont Schools is a community-based coalition of business and community leaders, educators and parents dedicated to passing Measure M to ensure we can provide up-to-date classrooms and technology that our students need to succeed.
Looking for More information?
The Fremont Unified School District has posted an informational Facilities & Bond Frequently Asked Questions which has answers to other facilities and bond questions. It addresses facilities funding, general obligation bonds, oversight of bond funds, and more.