AUSD               Alameda Unified School District

                                                            Alameda, California

 

 

 

                        MEASURE C CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

February 16, 2005

 

 

Members present:                                                                   Members Absent:

Daniel Aljoe                    - Community At-Large                        None

Judge Richard Bartalini - Business Organization

David Kirwin                   - Parent Member

Michael Lane                   - Community At-Large

John McCormick             - Parent Member

Dick Rudloff                    - Senior Citizen Group

Basil Shiber                     - Taxpayer Organization

 

District Staff present:  Lorenzo Legaspi, Bob Deluca, Patrick Russell

 

 

Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by Judge Richard Bartalini, Chairman at 5:30 PM

at the Alameda Unified School District Office.  Roll Call indicated a quorum was present.

 

Adoption of Agenda

The members adopted the agenda.

 

Staff Reports

Patrick Russell distributed a 2-sided handout of the Technology $5,628,000 budget:  Side 1,

a narrative portion by project and Side 2, a color-coded listing of projects that are in various stages of completion and the allocation/actual expenditures as of 1-31-05:  Projects completed, green-lined; Projects in progress, yellow lined; and Projects not yet started, red-lined.  Historically, the District invested $500,000 in Technology in the year 2000.  He reported that $3,159,157 has been spent with another $3,360,261 encumbered.  Thus, some of the projects listed may not get done.  In answer to committee members’ questions, Patrick stated that:

  • Most projects are accomplished synergistically so that no school can be left out-- we cannot afford to have any school communicating differently than another; however, something such as a mobile lab could be added to only high and middle schools
  • All teachers have computers; wireless technology is in conjunction with a lease with the City; Principals are the primary recipients; PE teachers, who take attendance in the field, will also be added
  • What technology is implemented will be used; we try not to over-engineer
  • Projects could not wait to be implemented over the next five-years of the modernization plan because of the fast pace of improved technology; we owe District staff and students to have this availability now
  • Telephony project will begin this summer when school ends unless directed by the Technology committee (principals, teachers, administrators, and the Superintendent) to work on something else.  A decision will be made next year at this time as to what projects will be completed with remaining funding

 

Measure C Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee       February 16, 2005                                           Page 1 of 2

 

A request was again made for a report of technology projects by school and a better narrative section of the projects.  Lorenzo will bring this report to the next meeting. 

 

Bob DeLuca distributed a handout, Account Summary Break Report, a year-to-date accounting of expenditures by site.  He reported that $3.7M has been spent, which is an increase of approximately $1.2M since last summer, with 95-98% of this additional expenditure to the architect.  Phase II modernization projects (Earhart, Haight, Lincoln, Miller) will begin in June with bids going out in March.  He stated there is a $20M budget for those schools but not all is Measure C funds.  A report of the total budget by site that reflects the $86M total will be sent to committee members.

 

He reported that the new school will be stick built as opposed to modular.  The modular building would involve a change to the manufacturer’s assembly line and therefore would cost more.  Everything in the plans will stay the same, nothing different from the modular plan.  He explained that a design team composed of City staff, parents, teachers, and administrative staff had worked together on the design plan as requested by the Board of Education.  There will be two separate projects:  1) site work, which will go to bid after approval by the Board of Education at its 2-22-05 meeting and, 2) vertical construction of the school.  Site work will begin in April/May and will accommodate the modules at a future date.  A ground breaking ceremony is expected in either late April or early May and Lorenzo indicated that the committee members will be invited to the event.  Vertical construction will begin in September with construction completion date set for June 2006 which will allow the balance of that summer to address the moving of students.  Bob stated there will be no budget increase in construction, but where the school was designed as K-8, the 6-8 portion might not be built at this time.  Bob reviewed the four components of the $15M total funding of the new school:  developer fees ~ $5M, City donation ~ $3M, State ~ $2M, remaining balance = Measure C funds.  He stated the good news is that the State has  increased the per student grant amount by 10.6% for modernization and new schools which translates to 10% or $7M for the District. 

 

School Site Visit Schedule

School site visits will be postponed until sometime this summer when projects start up again.

 

Budget Update

Lorenzo reminded members that Measure C information continues to be reported on the District’s website, at the Board of Education meetings, and in the newspapers and on TV.  He stated that the District’s 2005-06 budget is out of state compliance, with an Ending Balance Reserve of only 1.5% instead of the 3% required by law.  This shortfall must be addressed when the Board of Education adopts its budget before 7-1-05.  If this shortfall is not addressed, the State will not certify the District’s budget and will appoint a fiscal advisor to oversee the District’s finances.  The Board of Education however is confident that funding will be found to fund this shortfall by:  1) the 6-7-05 Election for approval of a Parcel Tax, and 2) proposed legislation by Wilma Chan to allow districts to reduce the amount of the Ending Balance Reserve from 3% to 1.5% as was done in the previous two years.  He stressed, however, that the District’s General Fund deficit does not affect the Measure C monies as these funds are in a Restricted Fund known as the Building Fund.  He further stated that the District will issue the remaining $22M of the $63M bond principal and receive these funds by June or July.  The State has $1.6B remaining of the initial $4B of matching funds and the District must have 60% of a project done before it can receive any State money.  Members requested a report of the funding of the $63M.

 

Judge Bartalini announced that the next meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2005 starting at 5:30 PM.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:51 PM.

 

 

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