San Marino USD bond team outlines Measure M projects, timelines and early-impact work

Bond program manager CJ Nolan updated the San Marino Unified School District Board of Education on Measure M progress, saying architects have been selected for three major projects and that the district is advancing smaller, early-impact work while architects are retained. The projects Nolan listed as having completed the initial request-for-proposal process were a two-story classroom building at Valentine Elementary School, a TK/Kindergarten classroom building at Carver Elementary School and a modernization of the high school 300 building into a medical arts and career center at San Marino High School. Nolan said the three projects were chosen to add classroom capacity and reduce interim housing needs while helping to minimize future escalation costs. Nolan said the district also is moving forward on stand-alone projects including a turf and track replacement at San Marino High School, stadium lighting (including the baseball field) and refreshed stadium restrooms. He said the turf manufacturers indicated material lead times could allow work to begin as early as Thanksgiving, depending on athletic schedules, and that the district received two competitive proposals for the turf and track work. On playing-surface options, Nolan described a newer synthetic-turf product with a denser blade weave that provides impact cushioning without rubber infill and carries a 12-year warranty; he said the bond team intends to recommend that option to the board. Nolan said the district will continue advertising requests for qualifications for professional services needed across the bond program, including inspection, CEQA analysis and surveying. He told the board the Aug. 26 meeting will include recommendations for architect contracts and that staff can arrange site tours if the board requests them. When asked about schedules, Nolan said the two-story classroom building at Valentine is tentatively estimated at about an 18-month construction duration. He said the bond team is finalizing an implementation plan and a one-page information sheet with broader timelines that will be shared with the board and community once completed. Superintendent Dr. De La Torre and Dr. Choi added that the district closed its first bond issuance on July 10 and used it in part to pay off a COP (certificate of participation). Nolan and Dr. Choi said projects are being sequenced across multiple sites to minimize disruption to teaching and learning; Nolan said the selection of the three different sites was intentional “to minimize the impact to education,” and that site administration will be involved in sequencing and interim housing plans. The board did not take action on Measure M tonight; Nolan said formal contract recommendations and supporting materials will be returned for board action at the Aug. 26 meeting.