School bonds were a tough sell to Bay Area voters this election -- why was this one a slam dunk?
While declining enrollment has forced districts across the state to downsize, layoff staff or close schools, one Bay Area school faced a unique crisis this election season: too many students and not enough space.
It seems to have struck a chord with voters, as Ravenswood City School District in East Palo Alto’s Measure A, which asked voters to approve a $70 million school bond that will tax property owners through 2053, sailed out to an early lead on election night and appears to be running far ahead of the 55% of votes necessary to pass.
The bond will go to build new classrooms in anticipation of a 20% enrollment surge after the tuition-free private school founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, The Primary School, closes later this month.
This district has said it’s expecting to receive many of the 443 children enrolled at the Primary School’s East Palo Alto campus, which offers preschool through sixth grade and serves students from predominantly low-income communities. District officials said many of those students are former Ravenswood City School District students.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/06/07/palo-alto-schools-plea-for-local-funds/amp/