Board hears phased $34 million plan for Granite Hills stadium; staff recommends a small COP to advance design

Apple Valley Unified School District trustees heard detailed plans and phased cost estimates for the proposed Granite Hills athletic complex and discussed financing options including COPs and potential state bond matches.

Presenter Matt Schulenberg introduced the stadium concept and said the full-build schematic includes synthetic turf, lighting, an all-weather track, a fieldhouse with locker and training rooms, restrooms, concessions, and parking. He introduced architect Scott Griffith (SGH Architects) and construction manager Mike Woods (California Professional Management), who walked trustees through alternatives to spread cost and deliver a functional facility sooner.

Architect Scott Griffith described a phased approach that prioritizes a minimally functional stadium for competition and community use. Phase 1 would deliver a playable turf field, track, basic spectator seating, restrooms and a concessions building, ADA parking, lighting and initial infrastructure. Griffith said starting seating could be reduced to about 1,500 home-side seats with options to expand later and to use temporary bleachers for occasional large events.

Scott and CPM presented a Phase 1 direct construction estimate of about $26 million and a total Phase 1 project cost of roughly $34 million when soft costs, off-site improvements and contingencies are added. They cautioned that final costs depend on the construction bid climate, DSA comments and field conditions discovered during site work.

On financing, Schulenberg reviewed the district’s local options (Fund 40/RDA revenue, developer fees/ Fund 25, and ELOP carryover funds) and explained the trade-offs among general obligation bonds (voter approved), parcel taxes, and certificates of participation (COPs, non-voter approved debt). Financial adviser J.Y. Kim told trustees a COP in the neighborhood of $17 million is the maximum size that would not affect the district’s unrestricted general fund under current assumptions; issuance costs reduce proceeds and larger borrowings would increase annual debt service and likely affect general fund flexibility.

Schulenberg and advisers recommended a near-term, limited COP sized to fund construction documents, environmental studies, soils testing and DSA submittal rather than borrowing the full construction amount up-front. Staff suggested an initial COP in the $5 million–$9 million range to keep both the TK and stadium projects moving into the design and approval phases and to return with refined numbers and a formal recommendation at the next regular board meeting.

Trustees expressed broad support for moving design work forward while reserving major financing decisions for the scheduled regular meeting. No binding financing action was taken at the session.

Next steps: staff will refine phasing plans and budgets, submit plans to DSA for review, and return with formal financing options and any proposed COP resolutions for board action.