Antioch Unified outlines $195M Measure B bond program and oversight steps

Facilities staff presented a year‑two update on Measure B, the $195 million general‑obligation bond voters approved in March 2024, describing a phased, prioritized program of roughly 150 projects across district campuses and a shift from quick‑start projects to three large capital initiatives that will soon advance into construction.

The board heard that the program has completed 31 projects and has nine projects in construction and ten in design. Early investments include marquee signs, playground replacements and athletics upgrades; major upcoming projects include John Muir (preliminary work underway), Fremont Elementary (an allocation in excess of $40 million for a multi‑phase upgrade) and Orchard Park (new gym, cafeteria and modernization). Staff said the program is expected to run five to six years and noted that the facility master plan will be updated to align with state reimbursement requirements.

Sal Sabrani, chair of the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, presented the committee’s annual report. The CBOC confirmed audits and oversight steps and said bond proceeds were spent on legally allowable purposes; committee members nonetheless discussed whether some purchases (notably laptops) align with voter expectations for long‑term capital improvement, and legal counsel confirmed those expenditures were allowable under the bond language.

Facilities staff said they are pursuing state reimbursement opportunities where eligible and working on communications to make program progress more visible to the public. Trustees asked about rising commodity costs and how potential escalation will be handled; staff described tracking measures and procurement approaches to mitigate cost increases.