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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. How does the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) relate to the passage of the Measure BB bond funding? What is the difference between the two?
Where the FMP represents a 20-year overview of the physical needs of our school district, the Measure BB Implementation Plan will represent a focused sub-set of that overall plan, based upon community comments that have been collected, recommendations from the FMP Project Team, and guidance from the Board of Education. Generally, Measure BB will provide the funding for design and construction projects which will implement the highest priority projects identified by the FMP, but with one caveat. Due to the realities of construction and the need to keep children in school while construction projects proceed, certain projects, no matter how urgent, may follow other projects. This process is called “phasing.”
2. What is a Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?
The purpose of an FMP is to guide an entity (a city, or a university) in its planning for the future development and maintenance of its facilities. Creating an FMP has become an increasingly popular idea, yet only recently have public school districts decided to prepare them.
3. What are the advantages of creating a Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?
The advantages are many. The FMP can help the district to understand what funds will be required to maintain and develop its facilities over a 20-25 year period of time. It can also be utilized in planning future construction based upon enrollment projections. Most importantly, it has the value of keeping the district from doing things now that it will have to un-do later, thus conserving valuable funds.
4. What is the history of SMMUSD’s Facilities Master Plan (FMP) project?
The district’s effort to create an FMP began in spring of 2005. An Ad Hoc Facilities Committee (AHFC) was appointed by the Board of Education to oversee implementation of an FMP. The AHFC consisted of community members—architects, financial people, attorneys, and others—with a strong sense of the history and connection to the district. The members of the AHFC engaged a firm, Kendall Planning, to work with them to develop a Request for Proposal, or RFP. On August 24, 2005, a meeting was held to fully inform the thirty-three companies interested in bidding for the project. Questions were answered and the companies were asked to make their proposals by September 23rd. Various companies teamed up in order to have the requisite expertise to fulfill the requirements of the RFP. Nine teams responded with a bid. Of those nine, three teams were selected as finalists who made a presentation to the AHFC. The number one rated team—a combination of Harley Ellis Devereaux (Architects and Engineers), Concordia (Community Outreach and School Planning), and Sidewalk Studio (Communications and Community Input)—was asked to negotiate with the District. A contract between the District and the lead firm, Harley Ellis Devereaux, was executed in December of 2005 and the FMP work began. Work continued until June of 2006 when the District requested that the Project Team suspend its work during the Measure BB campaign and until a new superintendent could be engaged. In December, 2006, with Measure BB successfully passed and Ms. Dianne Talarico hired as Superintendent of Schools, the District requested that the Project Team begin its work again.
5. What was the cost to the SMMUSD of creating the Facilities Master Plan?
Just over $1 million.
6. What is the projected expense and over what period of time will it take to carry out the Facility Master Plan (FMP) recommendations?
Current estimates, which may be revised prior to final adoption of the FMP, are that it will cost $1 billion over 20-25 years. This will include ongoing maintenance to the facilities as well as renovation, modernization, and new construction.
7. When will the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) be completed?
The current goal is to complete an FMP draft by May, 2007 and to have a final draft adopted by the Board of Education at the end of June, 2007.
8. How can the public review the Facilities Master Plan?
Both the draft Master Plan and the final Master Plan will be made public via the project website. The draft Master Plan will be open for community comment at public Board of Education meetings, but the final Master Plan, once adopted, will be considered complete, although the Board of Education may decide to review and revise the plan at regular intervals over its 20-25 year time frame.
9. What is the difference between what the Project Team decides should be part of the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) and what School Board decides?
The FMP will make recommendations, supplying backup data, but the School Board will make the final decision regarding both process and projects.
10. Does the Facilities Master Plan Project Team have any opinions on the Permit Policy of the district?
No. It only responds in its facility plans to the policy set forth by the Board of Education for planning purposes.
11. How will the School Board Permit Policy affect the Facilities Master Plan?
The Project Team must understand district enrollment policies going forward in order to plan for enough space to contain a certain number of students.
12. How are the projections of future enrollment being decided upon?
A firm contracted by the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Project Team, Schoolworks, has made projections based upon a variety of student permit plans. These projections have been evaluated by district personnel, critiqued, and then revised. Ultimately, the Board of Education will direct the FMP Project Team on the district enrollment number for which it should plan its facility needs for the future.
13. Is a new school location being considered by the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) for implementation?
The FMP is not about implementation. It is only about the SMMUSD’s potential and the possibilities for realizing it within a certain period of time and with a certain level of funding. Any near term implementation will be planned by the Measure BB Oversight Committee reporting to the Board of Education.
14. How will the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Project Team be certain that its ideas in the final report are in accord with those of the community?
The FMP process has involved a considerable amount of community input. There have been large public meetings, including four workshops. There have been three surveys or questionnaires, one each for teachers and administrators, students, and the community at large. Finally, members of the FMP team visited the community on a school site by school site basis to check the state of the facilities and again to solicit reactions to its initial plans. As a result, extensive refinements to the plans have been made.
15. How will “sustainability” issues be dealt with in the Facilities Master Plan (FMP)? I haven’t heard that much about it so far.
There is already a great deal of focus on sustainability in the FMP. Many Harley Ellis Devereaux architects are LEED certified. Also, Harley Ellis Devereaux has a sister company, Greenworks, which focuses exclusively on sustainability or “green” projects and Greenworks is contributing to the FMP. At the moment, a certain amount of FMP planned funding is allocated on a project by project basis for sustainability and 2% of the budget overall is dedicated for “green” construction. It is also important to realize that while an effort at sustainability may raise construction costs, it will also save operating costs. In addition, construction costs for sustainability are dropping relative to non-sustainable construction costs, particularly as “green” efforts become more commonplace. Based upon the sustainable recommendations of the FMP, district staff will bring recommendations for implementation to the Board of Education. Once specific building projects begin, architects with expertise in “green” construction will be selected.
16. I’ve heard a lot of talk about “joint use projects” as part of the Facilities Master Plan. What are these? Are they going to be utilized as part of the plan? And if so, when will that effort begin?
Joint use projects are those building or renovation projects where the Project Team and the district believe that there is a mutual interest between the district and another entity, possibly public or possibly private, for which financial support could be shared. One example might be a parking lot that could serve school needs during the weekdays, but also serve general public needs at other times such as during evenings and on weekends. Another example might involve building or renovating school libraries so that they may be shared by the community during hours when the school is closed, using an alternate entrance.
17. I noticed during one of the public presentations that Edison Elementary is planned for a complete re-build. But why is this so if 50% of the Edison population derives from out-of-district permitted students?
It is important to remember that the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) is not about implementation. It is only about the SMMUSD’s potential and the possibilities for realizing it within a certain period of time and with a certain level of funding. Any near term implementation will be planned by the Measure BB Oversight Committee reporting to the Board of Education. That said, one idea proposed by the FMP is to build a new Edison Elementary School. The logical reason for this is that Edison is currently comprised of temporary buildings. Another good reason is that there is enough space on the current campus to continue the students in school in the existing buildings while constructing new buildings elsewhere on the campus. It’s likely that if Edison is built anew it will attract more Santa Monica and Malibu residents, thus reducing the number of permitted students attending the school.
18. What are the current projects that are highlighted in the Facilities Master Plan that might be called major?
The Project Team doesn’t mind mentioning these projects so long as one understands that these may change. The list of projects has been discussed with all school principals, resulting in a high, medium, low priority listing that has been helpful in the decision making process. Also, there has been extensive community and staff input at numerous public meetings. Please realize that not all major projects listed will be able to be constructed under Measure BB implementation. Establishing priorities and phasing will be the job of the Oversight Committee working on Measure BB implementation. That said, among the major projects that have been mentioned are:
1) Re-organizing the campus of Samohi and constructing a new library.
2) Changing Olympic High School into a campus that supports both its current school and a new alternative high school which would remove enrollment pressure from Samohi.
3) Building a new Edison Elementary School.
4) Constructing new instructional facilities at all secondary schools and replacing relocatable classrooms at all elementary schools with permanent construction buildings.
MEASURE BB BOND FUND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
19. How much money will be funded through Measure BB?
In passing Measure BB, SMMUSD voters agreed to fund $268 million through a bond offering and it is expected that the district will raise the entire amount.
20. Given that Measure BB funding was for $268 million, since the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) seems to be projecting $1 billion in expenditures over a 20-25 year time span, how will the difference be made up?
With its 20-25 year time line, it is difficult to say how the entire FMP will be funded beyond the $268 million already funded through Measure BB. There are a number of possibilities. First, professional assessment of the district at current rates of property value suggests that the district on its own could finance $700 million of the $1 billion. There’s also the possibility that the State of California could make grants of aid to the school district or supply school modernization funds. Federal funds could also be obtained, particularly since the district soon will have a plan in hand. Finally, the district may apply for private grants for some of the funds through organizations such as the Gates Foundation.
21. When will Measure BB funds be available for expenditure?
The district is working with a bonding company and will also be hiring a project management firm. These companies will help district staff and the Board of Education determine the nature of the projects and their phasing over time. Based upon these discussions, the district will plan how the bond funds are drawn down. It is anticipated that this will occur in four increments, thus keeping the promise to the voters of $30 cost per $100,000 of property value. Generally, it is expected that Measure BB funded construction will take from between 5 to 8 years.
22. If Measure BB will take from between 5 and 8 years to spend $268 million, then how can the district expect to spend $1 billion over 20 years? Simple math seems to indicate that it should take longer than that.
The district believes that once a team is in place, the efficiency by which planning and construction occurs can be accelerated. Also, there are funds to work out the details of future projects that will not be covered by Measure BB funds and the district believes that these future projects can be planned during Measure BB implementation. Thus, when future monies are obtained, renovation or construction plans will be much more quickly available than they are now.
23. Are there any ideas now of how Measure BB funds will be spent and on what projects?
Not specifically. There are many factors that will need to be considered before a spending plan is in place. Once completed, the FMP will provide the district with priorities along with cost estimates. At that time, a newly hired project management firm will work with the district staff and Board of Education to determine which projects should be moved forward and in what sequence.
24. Who will oversee Measure BB expenditures?
There will be two groups, each with a somewhat different focus. First, the Measure BB Oversight Committee will be formed to look at the practical issues affecting Measure BB implementation. Among its duties will be identifying potential project managers needed to implement construction projects, selecting from Phase 1 recommendations in the Facilities Master Plan, addressing concerns that arise during construction projects, and providing progress reports to the Board of Education. The Oversight Committee will meet frequently, especially during the implementation planning stage. Second, the Measure BB Advisory Committee, as required by law, will assure that the bond money is spent in accordance with bond language and compliance issues, and that the bond funds will cover new school projects and modernization projects that upgrade existing facilities. It will meet less frequently than will the Oversight Committee, but frequently enough to approve expenditures.
25. Who can join the Measure BB Oversight Committee and who can join the Measure BB Advisory Committee?
The Measure BB Oversight Committee has been formed, but the Measure BB Advisory Committee is open for application until May 31, 2007. Any community member of the SMMUSD may join. Please click here to download an application form in pdf format.
26. Measure BB specifically stated that the uses of the fund will be for school safety and technology. Is this going to be the case?
Yes. The emphasis for allocating Measure BB funds will be both of these. For example, as part of its commitment, the district has promised to remove all “relocatable” (portable and temporary) buildings and replace them with safer permanent construction. Also, the district plans to put new wrought iron gates around its school buildings. Finally, technology has a chapter of its own in the Facilities Master Plan, including best practices laid out for implementation over the course of the next 20 years. Presumably, Measure BB funds will undertake some initial actions regarding technology improvement. Funds remaining from Measure BB will also be used for general school improvement on a priority basis to be established by the Oversight Committee and the Board of Education.
27. Is each school in the district being accorded exactly the same expenditures for Measure BB funds?
The spending plan for Measure BB implementation has not been decided upon as yet. Most likely, the Measure BB Oversight Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Education, which will make the final decision. At the present time it is unclear if funds will be awarded on a school basis, on a per student basis, on a project-only basis, or in some combination of the three.
28. If I have a question that is not answered here, how may I ask it?
Write to info@ourschoolplan.com. But please remember that the Project Team is busy preparing the Facilities Master Plan, so its ability to respond individually to every email is limited. Just know that anything you write will be kept as part of the project record and included for those who work on future implementation to review.
Members of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) community have made numerous inquiries about the Facilities Master Plan project and the Measure BB bond funding. In order to be as responsive as possible, we've created this Frequently Asked Questions page, or FAQ.
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN:
1. How does the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) relate to the passage of the Measure BB bond funding? What is the difference between the two?
2. What is a Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?
3. What are the advantages of creating a Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?
4. What is the history of SMMUSD’s Facilities Master Plan (FMP) project?
5. What was the cost to the SMMUSD of creating the Facilities Master Plan?
6. What is the projected expense and over what period of time will it take to carry out the Facility Master Plan (FMP) recommendations?
7. When will the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) be completed?
8. How can the public review the Facilities Master Plan?
9. What is the difference between what the Project Team decides should be part of the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) and what School Board decides?
10. Does the Facilities Master Plan Project Team have any opinions on the Permit Policy of the district?
11. How will the School Board Permit Policy affect the Facilities Master Plan?
12. How are the projections of future enrollment being decided upon?
13. Is a new school location being considered by the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) for implementation?
14. How will the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Project Team be certain that its ideas in the final report are in accord with those of the community?
15. How will “sustainability” issues be dealt with in the Facilities Master Plan (FMP)? I haven’t heard that much about it so far?
16. I’ve heard a lot of talk about “joint use projects” as part of the Facilities Master Plan. What are these? Are they going to be utilized as part of the plan? And if so, when will that effort begin?
17. I noticed during one of the public presentations that Edison Elementary is planned for a complete re-build. But why is this so if 50% of the Edison population derives from out-of-district permitted students?
18. What are the current projects that are highlighted in the Facilities Master Plan that might be called major?
MEASURE BB BOND FUND:
19. How much money will be funded through Measure BB?
20. Given that Measure BB funding was for $268 million, since the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) seems to be projecting $1 billion in expenditures over a 20-25 year time span, how will the difference be made up?
21. When will Measure BB funds be available for expenditure?
22. If Measure BB will take from between 5 and 8 years to spend $268 million, then how can the district expect to spend $1 billion over 20 years? Simple math seems to indicate that it should take longer than that.
23. Are there any ideas now of how Measure BB funds will be spent and on what projects?
24. Who will oversee Measure BB expenditures?
25. Who can join the Measure BB Oversight Committee and who can join the Measure BB Advisory Committee?
26. Measure BB specifically stated that the uses of the fund will be for school safety and technology. Is this going to be the case?
27. Is each school in the district being accorded exactly the same expenditures for Measure BB funds?
28. If I have a question that is not answered here, how may I ask it?
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. How does the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) relate to the passage of the Measure BB bond funding? What is the difference between the two?
Where the FMP represents a 20-year overview of the physical needs of our school district, the Measure BB Implementation Plan will represent a focused sub-set of that overall plan, based upon community comments that have been collected, recommendations from the FMP Project Team, and guidance from the Board of Education. Generally, Measure BB will provide the funding for design and construction projects which will implement the highest priority projects identified by the FMP, but with one caveat. Due to the realities of construction and the need to keep children in school while construction projects proceed, certain projects, no matter how urgent, may follow other projects. This process is called “phasing.”
2. What is a Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?
The purpose of an FMP is to guide an entity (a city, or a university) in its planning for the future development and maintenance of its facilities. Creating an FMP has become an increasingly popular idea, yet only recently have public school districts decided to prepare them.
3. What are the advantages of creating a Facilities Master Plan (FMP)?
The advantages are many. The FMP can help the district to understand what funds will be required to maintain and develop its facilities over a 20-25 year period of time. It can also be utilized in planning future construction based upon enrollment projections. Most importantly, it has the value of keeping the district from doing things now that it will have to un-do later, thus conserving valuable funds.
4. What is the history of SMMUSD’s Facilities Master Plan (FMP) project?
The district’s effort to create an FMP began in spring of 2005. An Ad Hoc Facilities Committee (AHFC) was appointed by the Board of Education to oversee implementation of an FMP. The AHFC consisted of community members—architects, financial people, attorneys, and others—with a strong sense of the history and connection to the district. The members of the AHFC engaged a firm, Kendall Planning, to work with them to develop a Request for Proposal, or RFP. On August 24, 2005, a meeting was held to fully inform the thirty-three companies interested in bidding for the project. Questions were answered and the companies were asked to make their proposals by September 23rd. Various companies teamed up in order to have the requisite expertise to fulfill the requirements of the RFP. Nine teams responded with a bid. Of those nine, three teams were selected as finalists who made a presentation to the AHFC. The number one rated team—a combination of Harley Ellis Devereaux (Architects and Engineers), Concordia (Community Outreach and School Planning), and Sidewalk Studio (Communications and Community Input)—was asked to negotiate with the District. A contract between the District and the lead firm, Harley Ellis Devereaux, was executed in December of 2005 and the FMP work began. Work continued until June of 2006 when the District requested that the Project Team suspend its work during the Measure BB campaign and until a new superintendent could be engaged. In December, 2006, with Measure BB successfully passed and Ms. Dianne Talarico hired as Superintendent of Schools, the District requested that the Project Team begin its work again.
5. What was the cost to the SMMUSD of creating the Facilities Master Plan?
Just over $1 million.
6. What is the projected expense and over what period of time will it take to carry out the Facility Master Plan (FMP) recommendations?
Current estimates, which may be revised prior to final adoption of the FMP, are that it will cost $1 billion over 20-25 years. This will include ongoing maintenance to the facilities as well as renovation, modernization, and new construction.
7. When will the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) be completed?
The current goal is to complete an FMP draft by May, 2007 and to have a final draft adopted by the Board of Education at the end of June, 2007.
8. How can the public review the Facilities Master Plan?
Both the draft Master Plan and the final Master Plan will be made public via the project website. The draft Master Plan will be open for community comment at public Board of Education meetings, but the final Master Plan, once adopted, will be considered complete, although the Board of Education may decide to review and revise the plan at regular intervals over its 20-25 year time frame.
9. What is the difference between what the Project Team decides should be part of the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) and what School Board decides?
The FMP will make recommendations, supplying backup data, but the School Board will make the final decision regarding both process and projects.
10. Does the Facilities Master Plan Project Team have any opinions on the Permit Policy of the district?
No. It only responds in its facility plans to the policy set forth by the Board of Education for planning purposes.
11. How will the School Board Permit Policy affect the Facilities Master Plan?
The Project Team must understand district enrollment policies going forward in order to plan for enough space to contain a certain number of students.
12. How are the projections of future enrollment being decided upon?
A firm contracted by the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Project Team, Schoolworks, has made projections based upon a variety of student permit plans. These projections have been evaluated by district personnel, critiqued, and then revised. Ultimately, the Board of Education will direct the FMP Project Team on the district enrollment number for which it should plan its facility needs for the future.
13. Is a new school location being considered by the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) for implementation?
The FMP is not about implementation. It is only about the SMMUSD’s potential and the possibilities for realizing it within a certain period of time and with a certain level of funding. Any near term implementation will be planned by the Measure BB Oversight Committee reporting to the Board of Education.
14. How will the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Project Team be certain that its ideas in the final report are in accord with those of the community?
The FMP process has involved a considerable amount of community input. There have been large public meetings, including four workshops. There have been three surveys or questionnaires, one each for teachers and administrators, students, and the community at large. Finally, members of the FMP team visited the community on a school site by school site basis to check the state of the facilities and again to solicit reactions to its initial plans. As a result, extensive refinements to the plans have been made.
15. How will “sustainability” issues be dealt with in the Facilities Master Plan (FMP)? I haven’t heard that much about it so far.
There is already a great deal of focus on sustainability in the FMP. Many Harley Ellis Devereaux architects are LEED certified. Also, Harley Ellis Devereaux has a sister company, Greenworks, which focuses exclusively on sustainability or “green” projects and Greenworks is contributing to the FMP. At the moment, a certain amount of FMP planned funding is allocated on a project by project basis for sustainability and 2% of the budget overall is dedicated for “green” construction. It is also important to realize that while an effort at sustainability may raise construction costs, it will also save operating costs. In addition, construction costs for sustainability are dropping relative to non-sustainable construction costs, particularly as “green” efforts become more commonplace. Based upon the sustainable recommendations of the FMP, district staff will bring recommendations for implementation to the Board of Education. Once specific building projects begin, architects with expertise in “green” construction will be selected.
16. I’ve heard a lot of talk about “joint use projects” as part of the Facilities Master Plan. What are these? Are they going to be utilized as part of the plan? And if so, when will that effort begin?
Joint use projects are those building or renovation projects where the Project Team and the district believe that there is a mutual interest between the district and another entity, possibly public or possibly private, for which financial support could be shared. One example might be a parking lot that could serve school needs during the weekdays, but also serve general public needs at other times such as during evenings and on weekends. Another example might involve building or renovating school libraries so that they may be shared by the community during hours when the school is closed, using an alternate entrance.
17. I noticed during one of the public presentations that Edison Elementary is planned for a complete re-build. But why is this so if 50% of the Edison population derives from out-of-district permitted students?
It is important to remember that the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) is not about implementation. It is only about the SMMUSD’s potential and the possibilities for realizing it within a certain period of time and with a certain level of funding. Any near term implementation will be planned by the Measure BB Oversight Committee reporting to the Board of Education. That said, one idea proposed by the FMP is to build a new Edison Elementary School. The logical reason for this is that Edison is currently comprised of temporary buildings. Another good reason is that there is enough space on the current campus to continue the students in school in the existing buildings while constructing new buildings elsewhere on the campus. It’s likely that if Edison is built anew it will attract more Santa Monica and Malibu residents, thus reducing the number of permitted students attending the school.
18. What are the current projects that are highlighted in the Facilities Master Plan that might be called major?
The Project Team doesn’t mind mentioning these projects so long as one understands that these may change. The list of projects has been discussed with all school principals, resulting in a high, medium, low priority listing that has been helpful in the decision making process. Also, there has been extensive community and staff input at numerous public meetings. Please realize that not all major projects listed will be able to be constructed under Measure BB implementation. Establishing priorities and phasing will be the job of the Oversight Committee working on Measure BB implementation. That said, among the major projects that have been mentioned are:
1) Re-organizing the campus of Samohi and constructing a new library.
2) Changing Olympic High School into a campus that supports both its current school and a new alternative high school which would remove enrollment pressure from Samohi.
3) Building a new Edison Elementary School.
4) Constructing new instructional facilities at all secondary schools and replacing relocatable classrooms at all elementary schools with permanent construction buildings.
MEASURE BB BOND FUND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
19. How much money will be funded through Measure BB?
In passing Measure BB, SMMUSD voters agreed to fund $268 million through a bond offering and it is expected that the district will raise the entire amount.
20. Given that Measure BB funding was for $268 million, since the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) seems to be projecting $1 billion in expenditures over a 20-25 year time span, how will the difference be made up?
With its 20-25 year time line, it is difficult to say how the entire FMP will be funded beyond the $268 million already funded through Measure BB. There are a number of possibilities. First, professional assessment of the district at current rates of property value suggests that the district on its own could finance $700 million of the $1 billion. There’s also the possibility that the State of California could make grants of aid to the school district or supply school modernization funds. Federal funds could also be obtained, particularly since the district soon will have a plan in hand. Finally, the district may apply for private grants for some of the funds through organizations such as the Gates Foundation.
21. When will Measure BB funds be available for expenditure?
The district is working with a bonding company and will also be hiring a project management firm. These companies will help district staff and the Board of Education determine the nature of the projects and their phasing over time. Based upon these discussions, the district will plan how the bond funds are drawn down. It is anticipated that this will occur in four increments, thus keeping the promise to the voters of $30 cost per $100,000 of property value. Generally, it is expected that Measure BB funded construction will take from between 5 to 8 years.
22. If Measure BB will take from between 5 and 8 years to spend $268 million, then how can the district expect to spend $1 billion over 20 years? Simple math seems to indicate that it should take longer than that.
The district believes that once a team is in place, the efficiency by which planning and construction occurs can be accelerated. Also, there are funds to work out the details of future projects that will not be covered by Measure BB funds and the district believes that these future projects can be planned during Measure BB implementation. Thus, when future monies are obtained, renovation or construction plans will be much more quickly available than they are now.
23. Are there any ideas now of how Measure BB funds will be spent and on what projects?
Not specifically. There are many factors that will need to be considered before a spending plan is in place. Once completed, the FMP will provide the district with priorities along with cost estimates. At that time, a newly hired project management firm will work with the district staff and Board of Education to determine which projects should be moved forward and in what sequence.
24. Who will oversee Measure BB expenditures?
There will be two groups, each with a somewhat different focus. First, the Measure BB Oversight Committee will be formed to look at the practical issues affecting Measure BB implementation. Among its duties will be identifying potential project managers needed to implement construction projects, selecting from Phase 1 recommendations in the Facilities Master Plan, addressing concerns that arise during construction projects, and providing progress reports to the Board of Education. The Oversight Committee will meet frequently, especially during the implementation planning stage. Second, the Measure BB Advisory Committee, as required by law, will assure that the bond money is spent in accordance with bond language and compliance issues, and that the bond funds will cover new school projects and modernization projects that upgrade existing facilities. It will meet less frequently than will the Oversight Committee, but frequently enough to approve expenditures.
25. Who can join the Measure BB Oversight Committee and who can join the Measure BB Advisory Committee?
The Measure BB Oversight Committee has been formed, but the Measure BB Advisory Committee is open for application until May 31, 2007. Any community member of the SMMUSD may join. Please click here to download an application form in pdf format.
26. Measure BB specifically stated that the uses of the fund will be for school safety and technology. Is this going to be the case?
Yes. The emphasis for allocating Measure BB funds will be both of these. For example, as part of its commitment, the district has promised to remove all “relocatable” (portable and temporary) buildings and replace them with safer permanent construction. Also, the district plans to put new wrought iron gates around its school buildings. Finally, technology has a chapter of its own in the Facilities Master Plan, including best practices laid out for implementation over the course of the next 20 years. Presumably, Measure BB funds will undertake some initial actions regarding technology improvement. Funds remaining from Measure BB will also be used for general school improvement on a priority basis to be established by the Oversight Committee and the Board of Education.
27. Is each school in the district being accorded exactly the same expenditures for Measure BB funds?
The spending plan for Measure BB implementation has not been decided upon as yet. Most likely, the Measure BB Oversight Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Education, which will make the final decision. At the present time it is unclear if funds will be awarded on a school basis, on a per student basis, on a project-only basis, or in some combination of the three.
28. If I have a question that is not answered here, how may I ask it?
Write to info@ourschoolplan.com. But please remember that the Project Team is busy preparing the Facilities Master Plan, so its ability to respond individually to every email is limited. Just know that anything you write will be kept as part of the project record and included for those who work on future implementation to review.