Saugus Union School District has begun a series of late Spring, Summer projects on many of the schools in the district, utilizing funds from Measure EE, designed to address both security and infrastructure issues. The projects, announced as Phase 1 in the recently released Measure EE Master Plan, will cover some immediate needs while the planning begins for Phase 2 projects, earmarked for 2017 to 18.

To check on your school’s impending projects, please see the Measure EE section of the Saugus Union School District website at www.saugususd.org. The Master Plan for Measure EE can be found in its entirety at this link.

Measure EE, which was a ballot measure in November of 2014, provides much needed funding for the schools of the Saugus Union School District to start and complete much needed district-wide campus improvement including construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and replacement of school facilities. While some of these projects will be large-scale and visible, many of them will be much-needed infrastructure updates and additions.

The scheduled work is being categorized into three priority areas: Needs Area 1, which covers health, safety and security code compliance; Needs Area 2, which covers Infrastructure; and Needs Area 3, which covers general facility improvements, modernization and new construction.

“All areas of school improvement remain a high priority, but the majority of community members we spoke to are interested in safety and security improvements as the top priority,” said Dr. Joan Lucid, Superintendent of Saugus Union School District.

Included in Phase 1 will be security related improvements like exterior door locks and remodeling of single point of entry areas as well as the addition of parking lot control gates; and property and grounds improvements like site grading and drainage improvement. Also falling under Phase 1 are carpet replacements for several schools.

“The passage of Measure EE meant that the 15 neighborhood schools in the Saugus Union School District would be able to even better serve the community,” said Governing Board President Judy Umeck. “The projects that we are undertaking will take care of some much needed additions and upgrades while making the schools more secure for our students.”

The projects in Phase 1 are already underway for several schools and will be completed for the remainder of the schools in the next academic year. Phase 2 projects include property and grounds improvement and more safety updates, including a replacement of fire alarm systems.

Most importantly, Phase 2 begins the planning for science labs that are scheduled for all schools over the next several years. The labs will focus on expanding 21st century science teaching into our schools.

“Nearly two thirds of today’s elementary students are going to be working in industries and jobs that don’t even exist today,” added Lucid. “We need to be focusing on building a learning environment for the next generation of science learners, so they are prepared for the world they will encounter after leaving school.”

Measure EE projects are slated to continue over the next ten years. The district will regularly update the public, through press releases, so they are aware of how the funding is being used. The district will also be regularly updating the Measure EE information on the district website at www.saugususd.org.