Apple Valley Unified outlines $16.5 million plan and classroom timeline for mandated Transitional Kindergarten
April 30, 2024 | Apple Valley Unified, School Districts, California
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Apple Valley Unified School District presenter Matt Schulenberg told the Board of Trustees that the district is preparing for full implementation of Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and plans new modular classrooms to serve rising four-year-olds.
Schulenberg said the district’s reported kindergarten enrollment as of the October reporting date was 877 students. Citing California Department of Education guidance and demographer assumptions, he said the district is using a 60% participation estimate for early implementation years and anticipates roughly 500–525 TK students in a full implementation year (2025–26), which would require about 26 classrooms at a 20:2 student-to-adult ratio. The proposed project would provide 30 designated TK classrooms to create some capacity for overflow.
The presentation laid out sites, design status and a budget estimate. Schulenberg said the district is in design for TK classrooms at three campuses (Desert NES, Yakala and Sandia), has a modular-bid estimate from Silver Creek Modular, and anticipates submitting plans to the Division of State Architects (DSA) in May 2023 for review and comment. He said playground upgrades, shade structures and ADA path-of-travel improvements are included in the site work.
Schulenberg and construction manager Mike Woods (California Professional Management) presented a preliminary project budget of about $16.5 million; the presenters said roughly $10.5 million is budgeted for modular buildings and immediate site work, with the remainder covering general conditions, construction management, soft costs, contingencies and escalation. Schulenberg emphasized built-in contingencies for inflation and DSA-required revisions.
On funding, Schulenberg reviewed local sources the district could use, including capital facilities fund (Fund 40) and remaining redevelopment-agency (RDA) revenue, developer fees (Fund 25), and Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) carryover funds. He estimated available local funds for TK and related facility work in a range of approximately $11 million to $16 million but cautioned against spending those funds to zero because they remain useful for emergent facility repairs and statutorily restricted uses.
During questions, Trustee Maria oara asked whether state facility bond funds would flow automatically if a state bond passes; Schulenberg replied that districts must apply for state facility funds, local match requirements are common, and staff would need an expert to navigate the state facility program. He also confirmed the district’s strategy to site TK classrooms adjacent to existing kindergarten areas and to repurpose underused preschool classrooms where appropriate.
Next steps: staff recommended advancing construction documents, completing required environmental and soils work, and pursuing DSA approvals. To support design and DSA submittal, Schulenberg proposed a near-term Certificate of Participation (COP) in the low millions (staff discussed a $5 million–$9 million initial COP range to fund design and permitting work) and to return to the board with formal financing recommendations.
The board will consider the staff recommendation at its next regular meeting; no formal funding decision was made at the session.
Schulenberg said the district’s reported kindergarten enrollment as of the October reporting date was 877 students. Citing California Department of Education guidance and demographer assumptions, he said the district is using a 60% participation estimate for early implementation years and anticipates roughly 500–525 TK students in a full implementation year (2025–26), which would require about 26 classrooms at a 20:2 student-to-adult ratio. The proposed project would provide 30 designated TK classrooms to create some capacity for overflow.
The presentation laid out sites, design status and a budget estimate. Schulenberg said the district is in design for TK classrooms at three campuses (Desert NES, Yakala and Sandia), has a modular-bid estimate from Silver Creek Modular, and anticipates submitting plans to the Division of State Architects (DSA) in May 2023 for review and comment. He said playground upgrades, shade structures and ADA path-of-travel improvements are included in the site work.
Schulenberg and construction manager Mike Woods (California Professional Management) presented a preliminary project budget of about $16.5 million; the presenters said roughly $10.5 million is budgeted for modular buildings and immediate site work, with the remainder covering general conditions, construction management, soft costs, contingencies and escalation. Schulenberg emphasized built-in contingencies for inflation and DSA-required revisions.
On funding, Schulenberg reviewed local sources the district could use, including capital facilities fund (Fund 40) and remaining redevelopment-agency (RDA) revenue, developer fees (Fund 25), and Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) carryover funds. He estimated available local funds for TK and related facility work in a range of approximately $11 million to $16 million but cautioned against spending those funds to zero because they remain useful for emergent facility repairs and statutorily restricted uses.
During questions, Trustee Maria oara asked whether state facility bond funds would flow automatically if a state bond passes; Schulenberg replied that districts must apply for state facility funds, local match requirements are common, and staff would need an expert to navigate the state facility program. He also confirmed the district’s strategy to site TK classrooms adjacent to existing kindergarten areas and to repurpose underused preschool classrooms where appropriate.
Next steps: staff recommended advancing construction documents, completing required environmental and soils work, and pursuing DSA approvals. To support design and DSA submittal, Schulenberg proposed a near-term Certificate of Participation (COP) in the low millions (staff discussed a $5 million–$9 million initial COP range to fund design and permitting work) and to return to the board with formal financing recommendations.
The board will consider the staff recommendation at its next regular meeting; no formal funding decision was made at the session.
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