District outlines Measure BB bond balances and allowable transfers as trustees press priorities for HVAC, roofing and IT spending

District staff and consultants gave trustees an update on Measure BB, the 2016 voter‑approved general obligation bond that authorized up to $148 million for facility repairs and safety upgrades.

The presentation reiterated the ballot language: bond proceeds may be used for renovating labs and classrooms, repairing roofs and athletic facilities, upgrading technology infrastructure and improving HVAC and life‑safety systems. Staff said the bond passed with about 76% of the vote, above the 55% supermajority required.

In answering trustee questions, staff pointed to a slide showing a current fund balance of about $58 million and approximately $17 million in encumbrances, leaving roughly $41 million in remaining bond capacity. After recommended expense transfers and encumbrances are subtracted, presenters showed an estimated building fund total of about $10–10.5 million available for upcoming projects.

Board members repeatedly asked how those remaining funds would be prioritized. Trustees pressed whether the bond could reimburse prior general‑fund expenditures on IT infrastructure (the NIC project), noting parts of the $45 million technology project had been funded through ESSER and general‑fund contributions that staff said could be reversed in part by allowable bond reimbursements. Presenters confirmed bond counsel and the district bond auditor had reviewed transfers and that the county office of education had no objection to transfers for allowable purposes.

Trustees also questioned roofing and HVAC priorities: staff said there is not enough bond funding to replace all aging HVAC units, and that the district intends to address the most urgent needs and supplement bond funding with deferred‑maintenance funds when appropriate. Several trustees urged that the facilities master plan be updated with community input to set long‑term priorities, and pointed to ADA compliance requirements that have increased the cost of some stadium projects.

Staff said when formal project bids return to the board they will include “not‑to‑exceed” amounts and that further itemizations will be posted as projects move to award. The board approved time‑sensitive bond expenditures and encumbrances as presented.