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New Haven Unified board approves proposed $2M reallocation from Measure M for Alvarado Elementary
Summary
The New Haven Unified School District Board approved a proposed reallocation of Measure M bond funds that would designate roughly $2 million toward Alvarado Elementary’s prioritized needs, including its multipurpose room/cafeteria, after a presentation from the district’s chief business officer.
Annette Hellman, the district’s chief business officer, told the New Haven Unified School District Board on Nov. 12 that Measure M — the 2015 general obligation bond — originally authorized $125 million and that, as of the close of fiscal 2023–24, the district had more than $24.1 million in remaining Measure M funds. Hellman said the board would be asked to approve a reallocation that would set aside about $2 million for Alvarado Elementary’s needs.
“Back in 2015, when Measure M was approved, dollars $125,000,000 was authorized for us by our community,” Hellman said in the presentation. “As of the closing of the books last year, we have over 24,100,000,” she added, noting a portion of that balance would be reserved for projects already in design or assessment. Hellman cautioned that final amounts could change once bids and design work proceed: “Now we all know that bids can come and these are not going to be the exact amounts.”
The proposal discussed and later approved as item 12.5 on the agenda would designate an estimated $2,000,000 from the projected ending Measure M balance for Alvarado Elementary. Board members asked targeted questions about scope: Vice President Kumar asked whether the cafeteria/multipurpose room was included in the additional funding, and Hellman confirmed it is the district’s top priority at Alvarado and that architects would be engaged if the reallocation is finalized.
The Measure M update also reviewed recent and ongoing work funded by the bond: completed makerspaces and site improvements, districtwide HVAC and a central kitchen nearing completion, and phased upgrades to surveillance and security systems. Hellman said the district determines project priorities based on the bond promises made to voters, deferred-maintenance needs and opportunities for cost efficiencies when multiple projects overlap geographically.
The board approved the proposed Measure M budget reallocation during the meeting. Trustees and staff stressed the contingency that bid results and final design will determine actual spending. The board’s approval authorizes staff to move forward with reallocation planning and the next steps of design and procurement.
What happens next: staff will engage architects and advance design and bidding steps for Alvarado projects; final contract awards and exact project budgets will be set after competitive bids and state approvals where required.
