Measure U committee meets as first LUSD projects are finished

Quick Start projects complete, under budget despite setbacks

A group of 11 people gathered in the library of Ronald E. McNair High School for the Measure U Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee’s meeting on Wednesday night to discuss updates on Lodi Unified School District repair projects.

This was the committee’s first official meeting, said Chairman Jeff Seybold, as the previous meeting was used to form the committee itself.

Senior Director of Operations for Lodi Unified Warren Sun began the meeting with a project progress report, stating that the program management plan had been completed and that more than 30 schools are eligible to apply for funds. The four Quick Start projects had also been completed, consisting of re-roofing for Westwood Elementary School and Joe Serna Jr. Charter School and painting at Bear Creek and McNair high schools.

The Joe Serna Jr. roofing project was initially bid at $418,000, but ended up costing approximately $568,000. While this was $150,000 more than the expected cost, the project still managed to stay under its $600,000 budget. The initial bid for the project came before asbestos tiles had been found in the roof, which resulted in an inspection and eventual replacement of the roofing deck, to the tune of 7,000 square feet at $25 per square foot, as Sun explained.

Lodi Unified Chief Business Officer Leonard Khan then explained that, had the project been bid as a roof replacement instead of repair, the cost would have been significantly higher than the allocated $600,000. Khan added that the measure’s $281 million bond is part of the district’s $1.5 billion master plan, and Measure U funds are distributed in $80 million increments.

Sun then informed the committee that a the selection process for renovating Tokay High School’s stadium had begun, while the remainder of the Measure U projects are being designed by LPA Inc., an architecture and design firm. Once the LUSD Board of Education approves the projects, the committee can begin estimating the costs. Sun expects approval board approval by January 2018.

While some sites are older than others, newer sites may have their projects begin first due to their eligibility for state fund matching, which would save the district money, according to Khan, who explained that state funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Projects such as replacing 30-year-old classrooms, a Level One project, are one example of those that are eligible for state funding.

Sun expects Phase One projects, such as moving the district’s Maintenance and Operations facility from Lodi High School to the district’s main office, to begin by the end of 2018. Land has already been purchased with separate funds, and Sun added that the project could begin as early as summer of 2018.

Sun then gave a recap of the project procurement process, explaining that the committee

screened bids and looked into each company’s legal claims, financial statements and bond capacity, as well as every school project worked on from the last five years and calling for references.

“If we want to receive state funds exceeding $1 million, we must be qualified for mechanical, electric and plumbing. We did this for every project, regardless of cost,” said Sun.

The company that provided re-roofing for Westwood Elementary did not check the color of the roof, which was originally gray, before beginning the project, resulting in reddishbrown roofs being installed in some of the buildings, said Sun. The company then reroofed 10 buildings in the proper color at no additional cost.

“It’s good to know you have contractors that will stand up and fix their errors without worrying about the cost,” said Jeff Palumbo of Vanir Construction.

Lodi Unified Director of Budgets Angel Murnan ended the meeting by reporting on the expenditure of funds from the fourth quarter, which lasted from April 1 to June 30, stating that the audit had not yet been completed and the board had not yet approved the expenditure report which will be finalized by Dec. 4. Of the fourth quarter projects’ $7 million initial budget, only $1.4 million had been spent as of June 30, Murnan said.

The next meeting will take place on Dec. 13 at the LUSD office, said Seybold, who added that the committee will discuss compiling the annual report. He also announced that the audit report will be prepared by Dec. 13, before adjourning the committee’s first official meeting.