Frequently Asked Questions
Burlingame School District
How are Burlingame School District schools doing?
Burlingame School District has some of the top schools in the Bay Area. Our District aims to build curious, compassionate problem-solvers who are prepared for the future.
What is the state of Burlingame classrooms and school facilities?
Our District maintenance team works hard to keep schools in good condition, yet many of our school facilities at our campuses – some of which are over 100 years old – need repairs and upgrades. While many improvements have been made to our schools in recent years, some classrooms contain dry rot, leaky roofs and outdated plumbing and electrical systems. Addressing these issues would help provide teachers with the tools they need to support student success and ensure access to safe, modern classrooms for every student.
How would the District fund these repairs?
While many improvements have been made to our schools in recent years, there is not sufficient funding to complete the next phase of projects. To ensure our schools keep pace, the Burlingame School District Board is considering placing an $89 million school facilities bond measure on the ballot. This potential measure would cost $30 per $100,000 of a property’s assessed (not market) value per year, while bonds are outstanding.
Specifically, how would the measure be used to complete needed improvements?
If approved by voters, funding from this measure could be used to:
- Make classroom and school repairs to help protect the quality of academic instruction in core subjects like math, science, reading and writing
- Remove dry rot, lead and asbestos
- Update science, technology, engineering and math labs
- Fix leaky roofs
- Replace aging and inefficient plumbing and electrical systems
- Provide teachers with the tools to prepare students for high school and college
How do I know funds from the potential measure would be used responsibly?
By law, a bond measure would require accountability protections:
- All funds would stay local for Burlingame schools – no funds could be taken by the State
- An independent citizens' oversight committee and mandatory annual audits would ensure all funds are spent as promised
- A project list outlining the specific use of funds would be required
- Funds cannot be used to pay administrators’ salaries or benefits
May funds from the measure be used for administrator salaries and pensions?
No. By law, no funds from the measure may be used for operating expenses, including administrator salaries and pensions.
What is the difference between assessed value and market value?
The cost of bond measures is based on the assessed value of properties. The assessed value of a property is based on the original purchase price and may not increase by more than 2% a year, while the market value tends to grow at a much faster rate based on market conditions. Thus, the assessed value is usually much lower than the market value, especially if a property was purchased long ago at a much lower price than it could be purchased for today.
I don’t have children attending local schools. How does this impact me?
Even if you do not have school-age children, funding quality education can help improve the quality of life in the community and protect the value of our homes.
Are senior exemptions available?
State law does not allow for exemptions to be applied to bond measures. However, because the cost of a bond measure is based on the original purchase price of a home, older residents who have lived in their homes a long time have the lowest assessed values and will pay the least toward the cost of a bond measure.
Didn’t we just pass a measure to fund our schools?
In November 2024 with the passage of Measure GG, local voters passed a parcel tax measure funding for our schools. Parcel tax revenues invest in ongoing expenditures like teachers and academic programs and are not used to fund facility improvements. Measure GG would provide dedicated one-time funding for updating our classrooms and facilities for teachers and students.
Would all funds benefit our neighborhood schools only?
All funds from a measure would benefit local schools only. No funds could be taken by the State or used for other purposes.
How can I share my thoughts or learn more?
For more information or to ask questions, please reach out to Jennifer Baker, Interim Executive Fiscal Director at [email protected].
