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Santa Rita Union School District details cell-tower, solar and modular-classroom work; Premier Builders contract approved
Summary
District staff updated the board on T‑Mobile DSA compliance work, Generate Capital solar system repairs, and timelines for modular classroom installations and site improvements; the board voted 4‑0 to approve a contract with Premier Builders for six classrooms at John Gutierrez Middle School.
District staff gave the Board of Trustees an update on multiple facilities projects, including required Division of the State Architect (DSA) work on cell‑tower sites, repair and replacement activity for district solar systems, and schedules for modular classroom installations at John Gutierrez Middle School (JGMS) and Gavilan View (GV).
The facilities committee reported that two cell‑site installations operated by T‑Mobile were flagged by DSA as not compliant; DSA provided a list of remedial steps the company must complete. District legal counsel and T‑Mobile’s counsel are negotiating a written agreement under which T‑Mobile would perform the DSA work at its cost and, if compliance is not achieved, remove equipment and structures from the sites. The district reported it receives roughly $50,000 per year in revenue from the site leases that offsets telecommunications costs.
The district also discussed long‑running problems with its solar installations that are owned and managed by Generate Capital. Staff said Santa Rita Elementary was used as a pilot site this past fall; Generate Capital completed testing and confirmed the upgraded system functioned during live tests. Generate Capital is drafting contracts to bring the remaining five sites to full operational status so they provide the intended PG&E billing offsets. District staff said the contract year‑end “true up” with Generate Capital will continue until the systems consistently reduce PG&E bills as expected.
On capital projects, staff outlined schedules for modular classroom installations and related site work. For John Gutierrez Middle School, the district plans site grading, fencing, underground utilities and foundations this spring, starting preparatory work in March and targeting construction completion of new classrooms in August; staff said students would likely occupy the rooms by September once furniture and final finishes are installed. For Gavilan View, trenching and infrastructure work is scheduled during the summer to run electrical, fiber and other utilities so buildings can be set and finished after school ends.
The board also received a late‑day update that Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) intends to demolish two vacant portables at La Jolla between June 2 and July 18; staff said plumbing and infrastructure are already available to accept a modular restroom unit in that location.
The board voted unanimously, 4‑0, to approve a construction contract with Premier Builders Inc. for installation of six classrooms at John Gutierrez Middle School. The contract was presented as the first to proceed under the district’s project labor agreement and will be coordinated to limit noise impacts during school hours.
District staff said the district office will undergo a window‑wall and interior renovation beginning mid‑June; staff will temporarily relocate some offices while demolition, sanding and wallpaper removal occur, with work staged to complete before the start of the school year.
Board members asked about sequencing, access paths during construction and tree plantings in new courtyards; staff said they will continue to coordinate schedules to reduce campus disruption and will bring firm delivery dates from modular manufacturers as they are confirmed.
