Citizens' Oversight Committee Community Report December 2003

Dear Community Members,

Thanks to the generous support of the community, Proposition U, the $198 million bond measure, passed in November 2002. With its passage, funding was made available to make facilities improvements and renovations to the 24 older schools in the Poway Unified School District during the next 10 years.

As a provision under the passage of Proposition U, a citizens’ committee was formed to oversee the bond measure. The PUSD Board of Education selected seven committee members, from more than 50 applicants, honoring its commitment to ensure that a majority of the members have knowledge and experience in the fields of construction, architecture design, public financing, contract law, and/or building program management.

The Citizens’ Oversight Committee is actively carrying out its mission of monitoring and oversight of the Proposition U, Building for Success, program. The District staff and consultants have provided briefings on district design standards, the process by which State funds are applied for and brought to the program, and the current status of the design development for the first four schools in the program. The Committee has reviewed the plans and processes and found them to be consistent with the provisions of the bond measure, and found that revenues generated by the bond measure are being spent wisely.

The Citizens’ Oversight Committee is pleased to provide this program update. Work on the bond program began in earnest following the passage of Proposition U in November 2002. We are pleased to report:

Design and construction preparation is on schedule for the Group One Schools - Poway High School, Mt. Carmel High School, Westwood Elementary School, and Midland Elementary School.
This design and construction planning process, which includes the complete re-building of Midland Elementary School, is tracking towards a Summer 2004 start.
More than $4 million was authorized by the bond, and the work immediately began on approved communication upgrades at all 24 of the schools in the program except Midland, which is being completely re-built. Phone systems and technology infrastructure are now in place, as well as upgraded fire alarms and intercoms at the sites that needed them.
Air Conditioning upgrades valued at $853,000 were completed at Mt. Carmel High School prior to the start of 2003/2004 academic year.
Title IX (equity in opportunity in athletics) upgrades to the Women’s Softball field at Mt. Carmel were completed in September.

While our Building for Success program will face major challenges during the next 10 years, there is clear commitment ensuring that each of the 24 schools receive their fair share of work authorized under Proposition U. There are, however, continuing upward pressures on projected costs in the construction market and additional costs related to new state agency programs. Project managers are focusing on cost control strategies maximizing all sources of revenue and integrate program controls before the start of major construction.

The summer of 2004 will see the start of the major construction effort, which will continue in earnest until 2012. These are exciting times for the community schools and the Poway Unified School District.

Sincerely,

Fred Sanford, Citizens’ Oversight Committee Chair

Accomplishments in 2003 | Program Timeline | Group One Project Status | 2004 Expectations
Objectives & Challenges | Budget Overview
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