Inglewood Unified Plans $439.5M School Modernization with 2028 Bond

The Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) has unveiled an ambitious blueprint to modernize its educational facilities, detailed in the Facilities Master Plan 2025 Administrative Draft, prepared by Caldwell Flores Winters, Inc., and dated October 2025. The plan addresses declining enrollment, implements a TK-8 educational model, and seeks to transform aging campuses into 21st Century Learning Environments, all at an estimated total cost of $439.5 million.

Financing the Transformation

Executing the plan hinges on a two-pronged funding strategy: maximizing State aid grants and securing voter approval for a local General Obligation (G.O.) bond.

• State Aid Grants: IUSD anticipates approximately $22.6 million from the State Facility Program (SFP), which supports modernization and new construction on a matching basis—typically 60/40 for modernization and 50/50 for new builds. This structure requires the District to provide local funds to unlock state contributions.

• General Obligation Bonds: To cover the local match and finance the bulk of improvements, the District must secure new local authorization. Currently, IUSD has no remaining voter-approved bond capacity, making the passage of a new 2028 G.O. bond measure essential. The proposed bond would need to raise roughly $416.9 million.

Structuring the Bond

The District plans to pursue a 2028 election (March or November) under Proposition 39 rules, which require 55% voter approval. Key financial parameters include:

• Tax Rate Limit: Maximum levy capped at $60 per $100,000 of assessed valuation (AV).

• Issuance Schedule: Assuming 4% annual AV growth, the District could issue $420 million over an eight-year horizon, generating the required $416.9 million for project funding.

• Bond Capacity: As of FY 2024-25, statutory debt limits allow $529.5 million in total G.O. capacity. With $321 million in outstanding debt, the net available capacity is $208.5 million, necessitating either growth in AV or repayment of existing debt for future sales.

Implementation and Contingency Planning

Of the $439.5 million projected, $398.1 million is allocated to physical improvements, while $41.4 million is earmarked for a Program Reserve to cover unforeseen regulatory, design, or construction costs.

Funding will roll out over four phases beginning FY 2028-29, with Phase 1 prioritizing the reconstruction of Inglewood High School. Subsequent phases will modernize and rebuild campuses including Bennett-Kew, Centinela, Woodworth/Monroe, Beulah Payne, Parent, Oak Street, La Tijera, the future Kelso site, and the Hudnall Alternative Education facility.