Solana Beach School District prepares to move forward with building projects

Just two days after voters supported a $105 million bond measure to replace and upgrade Solana Beach School District facilities, the Solana Beach School District board agreed to issue a request for proposals for inspector services for various projects.

“Everything we build has to go though an inspection process required by the Division of the State Architect,” Superintendent Terry Decker said in an interview after the Nov. 10 board meeting. The Division of State Architect provides design and construction oversight for K-12 schools, community colleges, and various other state-owned and leased facilities.

The bond will replace or upgrade outdated classrooms, science labs, libraries and school buildings; restore deteriorating roofs, plumbing and electrical systems; improve student safety and campus security; and provide students access to educational facilities, science and technology needed to prepare for high school, college and careers.

As of 3 p.m. on Nov. 18, voters passed Measure JJ with 65.63 percent of the vote. The measure received 9,345 “Yes” votes and 4,893 “No” votes. There are approximately 314,000 mail and provisional ballots still to be counted throughout the county.

“We have been, for a number of months now, gearing up to be able to move quickly into these building projects — were the bond to pass,” Decker said.

Solana Beach School District identified capital improvement projects districtwide as part of the long-range facilities master planning process. The district initiated the process in 2011 and the completed plan was presented to the board in 2013.

As part of the implementation of the long-range facilities master plan, it is necessary for the district to acquire the services of a licensed Division of State Architect inspector. The inspector will provide professional services required during school construction and modernization projects.

The district plans to start with the reconstruction of Skyline, which was built in 1955 and modernized in 2000, and the modernization of Solana Highlands.

The school board on Nov. 10 also approved a contract with Capitol Public Finance Group, LLC to conduct financial consulting services for the district.

According to the staff report, Capitol PFG will provide the district with strategic financial consulting services, including school construction planning and funding; project budgets and cash flow analysis; analysis of potential funding sources based on project design components; consulting on project delivery methods and timeline; analysis of the tax base; identifying and classifying existing and potential revenue sources such as state funding, developer and mitigation fees, special taxes, bond, and grant funding; participation in public information meetings; and general financial advisory services on an as-needed basis.

“These items were on the agenda to help us move forward so we really can hit the ground with Skyline and Solana Highlands right away,” Decker said.

District staff plans to submit its plans for these projects to the Division of the State Architect this fall.

The district will receive its first bond issuance in spring 2017.

If plans are approved by spring 2017, construction could begin in June 2017, with the new Skyline to open in fall 2018. Solana Highlands would be modernized over the summer of 2017, with most updates completed by fall 2018.