Menlo Park School Board OKs $124M Tech, Safety Bond Package

There’s a $123.6 million bond initiative looming on the horizon for Menlo Park voters. Earlier this month, the Menlo Park City School District Board approved a bond proposal to help fund “critical facility” improvements.

These improvements include school safety and technology infrastructure modernization initiatives, among others.

According to the bond measure resolution approved by the board, the planned technology upgrades include initiatives to (as written):

• Repair, replace or modify outdated technology infrastructure
• Upgrade classroom audio-visual equipment, emergency communications and technology systems
• Purchase and install interactive presentation screens 
• Construct electric vehicle charging stations

The school safety and security portion of the measure includes work to (as written):

• Renovate and improve security fencing and wayfinding
• Renovate and improve the fire alarm system
• Upgrade the alarm and security camera system
• Acquire and install electrified card key door access
• Construct and/or acquire and install a battery energy storage system (BESS) for select buildings
• Construct and/or acquire uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for intermediate distribution frames and main distribution frames (IDFs/MDFs)
• Bring all schools up to modern safety standards
• Improve school fire and earthquake safety

The other areas of focus in the bond measure include seismic upgrades and retrofitting and climate resilience upgrades, like HVAC systems.

According to local mediaThe Almanac, district officials would like to see the bond measure before voters on the November ballot.