[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6677119,"mediaKeyId","2270824-3039ce07927214bd825b7c2608f2f878","parentId",2270824,"title","Superintendent staff outline SMART bond progress, remaining projects and transition risks","audioSeconds",2293,"startMs",6073000,"endMs",8366000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270824-3039ce07927214bd825b7c2608f2f878&start=6073&end=8366","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270824-3039ce07927214bd825b7c2608f2f878/thumbnail_6073000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6677119/Florida/Superintendent-staff-outline-SMART-bond-progress-remaining-projects-and-transition-risks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677119-f997448126b7ca35ae7cfec2beadce9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507026&Signature=RXIg5ncC1f2luK4j-j6reiPvLzFpoUA0Gxr4sjDvmDShilqKnkXazzC5K151eAmm-qwQULcWduyYoknpHjrHyRlqjQDKN1fXiGfVg8yXikUD-3GupqvSQnpzyFODFbS3err2xkauXxvTuNWBH8uaf7BGPYS8wl6Cs3h3lsDcL-yxlZ8dt0OTHMPeaJ9K5gL0NbXLBdytwr42t2pWHtwXrMHQvesxCYLVseCxBmQENyliGt5pZmr76H8AGm69XoOJiJivm80wS1ojD8jkFb577XhZ4karOYTsptADl1wwGaEqpjDwBx-nB8Dm89ZaI-FP932QoVfhM8B-0EWzTIFgQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Broward County Public Schools","date","2025-02-11T10:05:00Z","article","Chief operations and facilities officer Wanda Paul and construction executive Sonia Coley updated the board on the SMART bond program's status and upcoming capital priorities, saying the district has spent most of the current SMART budget but still faces a set of older, complex projects that will roll into the district capital plan (DEFP).

What the presentation covered: Staff and program managers AECOM and Atkins provided a program-level summary, funding and schedule status, progress highlights and proposed next steps for transition from the SMART program to ongoing capital management. The board and staff discussed timelines for AECOM's contract extension, the number and cost of projects expected to remain active past the SMART completion date, and options for program-management going forward.

Key figures and status: Paul and consultants reported these figures (district-provided figures):
- Program spending and budget: staff cited roughly $1.65 billion invested program-wide and a current SMART budget near $1.55 billion, with approximately 82% of that current budget already spent.
- Projects and construction: staff reported 331 SMART projects (the packet lists 334 projects in program accounting), 53 schools in active construction at the time of the briefing and 68 media centers completed to date; the presentation listed 35 projects that, as of the briefing, are likely to remain active beyond October 2025.
- Contingencies and unencumbered funds: staff said approximately $110 million unencumbered in the program, of which $40 million was associated with pending construction contract awards and $70 million was contingency inside project budgets.

Why it matters: District leaders reiterated that some projects are relatively simple closeouts while others are older facilities requiring larger investments. Staff said three specific schools (Bennett, North Fork and Broward Estates) have larger remaining needs that are not fully funded in the SMART program and will be candidates for DEFP (long-term capital planning). That combination of incomplete projects and complex final items increases the risk that work will remain after the board's target completion date.

Program management options: Paul recommended a hybrid approach for the transition: retain an internal core of district facility/project-management staff while using external program management and staff augmentation for peak workload. AECOM's contract was scheduled to end in July 2025; staff said they were negotiating possible short-term extensions and would present options to the board at a March workshop. Board members pressed for a definitive near-term plan because summer construction windows are critical for completing school renovations with minimal student impact.

Board concerns and follow-up: Board members asked for more granular, school-by-school closeout data (financial closeout status, remaining contingencies and pending change orders) and for a clear plan if AECOM does not extend. Staff said they will return with options in March, including internal, external and hybrid approaches; staff also agreed to provide the AECOM partner's proposal as soon as it was available for board consideration. Consultants reported that AECOM and its partners were finalizing a proposal and expected to present options in the weeks that followed the briefing.

Notable technical and schedule drivers: Presenters highlighted causes of delay, including: unforeseen conditions (hidden building issues discovered in construction), consultant errors/omissions on plans that require rework, sequencing challenges for electrical/HVAC/fire-safety work, and contractor performance problems that have at times required legal follow-up.

Ending: Staff said they would return at a March workshop with a transition plan and firm recommendations for program management beyond AECOM's contract, and asked the board to expect more detailed, school-level financial closeout and schedule information in coming reports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Broward County Public Schools - School Board Workshop - PART II - Feb 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chief operations and facilities officer Wanda Paul and construction executive Sonia Coley presented a SMART program update showing most SMART funds already spent but noting roughly 35 projects that were likely to remain active beyond the board's October 2025 completion target; staff recommended a hybrid approach to program management and said a March workshop will propose transition options.","taxTitle","Broward, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15571,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6677123,"Broward Office of Inspector General outlines ILA role, limits and funding to school board",2792,207000,2999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270824-3039ce07927214bd825b7c2608f2f878&start=207&end=2999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270824-3039ce07927214bd825b7c2608f2f878/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6677123/Florida/Broward-Office-of-Inspector-General-outlines-ILA-role-limits-and-funding-to-school-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677123-e9f8a311fd74fc49fc2789578f8303a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507026&Signature=LVFVJmSQpoq4oWwl3wj71Erulm3cwt3FgnWtrFyDlKsUrvGG0wCLpt5JT9LhLkxuQ-NHSIqPFe-G7rZLXjcVPAULNVZS~cl18oxKsbpP64zpic3y-9G4gqZ~9PDNMcCX1bbddofjQEvaEjJu0RbybHYKc~jg83i0N-SwKp8z6SizSs0CKXzol27fmIkX6f8l41H0IMGMlhdT9R8ifGvKb93NvDnMSWjX9e6VglRnwgqyKmH5IT79SbnH6TQ45AQwBjvYWA1sJnK-mccxg1eYaHwt9v5GpD74ZDPjOw6msJMSExScs-H8pNjCyYoGXijPrg9PeXRNQ~o1VrpnfCYV3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Inspector General Jody Breeze and Kathy McIntyre, general counsel for the Broward County Office of the Inspector General, presented the office's authority and how an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the school board will work.

The ILA, the presenters said, took effect Jan. 2 and makes the county OIG responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct and gross mismanagement involving school board elected and appointed officials, employees and vendors where the alleged misconduct relates to the school board contract or duties. Breeze said the school board has paid an initial fee of $659,000 to cover OIG services through fiscal 2025 and that the OIG will submit budget requests for future years through the county's normal budgeting process.

Why it matters: The ILA gives the county's independent oversight office the authority to open investigations and to issue reports that can lead to referrals to enforcement authorities such as the State Attorney or Florida Commission on Ethics. At the same time, the OIG told the board its jurisdiction is limited to school-board-related conduct and that confidentiality protections govern complainant identities and active investigations.

Breeze summarized the office's statutory and charter duties, including its authority to investigate violations of federal, state and county law and to report on gross mismanagement defined in the Broward County Charter as \"a material waste or significant mismanagement of public resources.\" She told the board the OIG will maintain confidentiality for complainants and for materials in active investigations except where disclosure is required by court order or other law. \"Independence is the hallmark of an inspector general or any oversight agency,\" Breeze said. \"Without it . . . we don't have the trust of the public to do the job that we're engaged to do.\" (Inspector General Jody Breeze)

Scope and limits: McIntyre and Breeze said the ILA covers:
- School board elected and appointed officials and school board employees; and
- Persons and entities that provide goods or services to the school board under contract, but only to the extent the alleged misconduct relates to the contract or school-board-controlled matters.
They said the OIG will not investigate school allied groups such as PTAs or school advisory councils unless individual members are otherwise officials, employees or covered contractors.

Reporting and records: The OIG described its process for issuing preliminary and final reports, the 30-day opportunity for responses to preliminary reports, and the office's statutory duty to refer probable criminal conduct to the State Attorney or U.S. Attorney when warranted. Breeze said the OIG will provide the school board with any OIG reports that involve the district and will include a school-board section in the OIG's annual report.

Budget and staffing: McIntyre and Breeze said the school board paid an initial $659,000 fee to cover OIG services through fiscal year 2025 and that the OIG will submit an anticipated budget for future fiscal years. Breeze said the OIG is recruiting three positions dedicated to school-board matters (a special agent, a special auditor and an investigations manager) and that the office expects school-board work to account for roughly 25% of its caseload when fully operational. She also said the OIG had budgeted $115,000 (approx.) for a modest buildout of office space and described the OIG's current office location and public reporting options (browardig.org and an anonymous hotline).

Board questions and follow-up: School board members asked how confidentiality and 'good faith' complaints are handled, whether complainants are notified when a tip is not pursued, and whether the office would advise complainants to pursue other remedies (Breeze said the OIG does refer people to other agencies when appropriate). The OIG said it will provide the board with a breakout of school-related tip counts and other statistics in its next annual report and that it will transmit budget requests to the board in time for the county's budgeting cycle.

Public guidance and contacts: The OIG reiterated reporting channels for alleged misconduct: online at browardig.org, by hotline at (954) 357-7873, or in person at its office in Plantation (1 North University Drive, Suite South). Breeze closed by noting the OIG's intention to remain independent and to follow the charter and relevant law in pursuit of misconduct and gross mismanagement.

Ending: Board members asked that the OIG provide its anticipated budget as soon as possible and requested that the board's general counsel coordinate timing for any additional briefings requested by the board.

","Inspector General Jody Breeze and general counsel Kathy McIntyre briefed the Broward County School Board on the new interlocal agreement under which the county Office of Inspector General will investigate alleged misconduct and gross mismanagement involving school board officials, employees and contract providers, saying the ILA took effect Jan. 2 and the school board had paid an initial $659,000 fee to cover services through fiscal 2025.","actionData","errors"]

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Superintendent staff outline SMART bond progress, remaining projects and transition risks

Broward Office of Inspector General outlines ILA role, limits and funding to school board