District outlines summer construction bundle, bid schedule and funding sources

The district’s business services team presented a detailed update on planned summer facilities projects and procurement timelines at the April 18 meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Rick Champion and Director Jeff Ferrotto described a bundled approach covering eight sites with work that includes front‑office reconfigurations for a single point of entry, new playground equipment, flooring replacement, kitchen modernization and other building repairs. They emphasized the projects are largely funded from developer fees (Fund 25) and restricted facility funds (Fund 40), with limited use of general‑fund resources for unplanned repairs.

Champion listed the procurement schedule: bid notices will be published in the Orange County Register on May 6 and May 13, a mandatory job walk for bidders is planned for May 14, and the public bid opening is set for June 6. The administration intends to prequalify bidders for responsibility and responsiveness under the district’s board policy and Assembly Bill 1565, score and review proposals, and return recommendations for award and budget to the board at the June 27 meeting so work can begin in August.

Staff also reported recent unplanned repairs — including underground gas leaks — that were addressed over a weekend without disruption to instructional time. Technology infrastructure work (network switch upgrades) occurred over spring break and will continue to be expanded to secondary sites.

Trustees asked timing and sequencing questions; staff said projects will be scheduled primarily for summer months to limit classroom disruption and noted mitigation agreements with developers to address capacity needs for rapid housing development near the Linda Elementary area.