Measure U work underway at Lodi schools
Roof repairs, painting among early projects under recent bond
Repairs and reconstruction projects are underway for Lodi Unified School District buildings, with one project beginning this summer.
Lodi voters passed Measure U during last year’s general election, which was recently approved and authorizes the district to issue $281 million in general obligation bonds.
Measure U projects are broken down into three levels. Level one projects, costing an estimated $216.7 million, include upgrading fire alarms and intercoms, replacing portables that are more than 30 years old as well as reconstruction on Lodi High School classrooms and the Tokay High gym. Funds from the Measure U bond will mostly be used for level one projects.
Level two projects are estimated to cost $229 million, and consist of replacing portables that are more than 20 years old, building new classrooms, reconfiguring kindergarten classrooms, reconstructing Lodi High School science labs, upgrading middle school gyms and changing rooms and upgrading elementary school media, music and fitness rooms.
Level three projects, which will cost an estimated $37.2 million, include upgrading elementary school multipurpose rooms and upgrading the Lodi High School pool.
LUSD’s Senior Director of Operations, Warren Sun, said in a phone interview that two “quick start” projects are already underway, following the bond’s first installment of $80 million. The projects are expected to cost between $2.6 million and $3 million and consist of restoring the roofs of two schools and an administration building and painting two additional schools.
According to LUSD’s website, the roof restoration is estimated to cost between $1.2 million $1.4 million. The James Areida Educational Support Center and Joe Serna Jr. Charter School in Lodi, as well as Westwood Elementary School in Stockton, will all have their roofs torn down and replaced.
Bear Creek High School and Ronald McNair High School, both in Stockton, will be repainted over the summer with an estimated cost of between $1.4 and $1.6 million.
Sun also stated that LUSD board members have been meeting with principals and stakeholders of the district’s schools to ensure that their needs are being met.