San Marino Unified adopts resolutions to pursue state school facility funds, positions Measure M projects

The San Marino Unified School District Board of Education on March 25 opened a Proposition 2 public hearing and approved three resolutions intended to position district projects from the Measure M list for state matching funds and future consideration.

The board opened the public hearing required by Proposition 2 and received no public comment before adopting: (1) Resolution No. 12 acknowledging the district’s Board‑approved five‑year facilities master plan; (2) Resolution No. 13 designating the superintendent and chief business official as the district’s authorized representatives for state funding applications; and (3) Resolution No. 14 acknowledging applications fall under the School Facility Program’s beyond‑bond authority list and that available modernization funds are currently exhausted while new‑construction funds may remain available. Board members voted unanimously on each resolution.

The resolutions follow a Measure M update earlier in the meeting. District staff told the board they have formed a citizen oversight committee that has completed initial training and will next review bylaws and elect officers. The district also reported an interview panel scheduled to evaluate firms responding to a request for qualifications for bond program management; that panel will include parent volunteer Jeff Morris and former superintendent Jeff Yance, who will help the district select a program management consultant.

Why it matters: Proposition 2 governs the matching of state bond funds for school facility projects. By adopting the resolutions, the board preserves the district’s place in application queues and designates officials who can sign required documents. Staff said modernization funding from recent state bonds is already allocated in many districts, so San Marino is pursuing both modernization and new‑construction categories and seeking to be in line for future matching funds.

Details and vote: At the Proposition 2 hearing, no members of the public spoke. The board then approved the three resolutions by roll call. The district presented the projects submitted under each resolution as drawn from the previously approved Measure M project list, covering classroom and restroom upgrades, safety and infrastructure improvements, instructional spaces and related site work.

Measure M oversight and procurement steps: Staff told the board the Measure M citizen oversight committee held its first training and will meet again to finalize bylaws and appoint officers. The district described an interview panel for bond program management consultants and named two members who will serve on that panel. No contract awards were made at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution No. 12 (acknowledge 5‑year facilities master plan): Motion to approve — Passed (roll call: Song — aye; Lam — aye; Ryan — aye; Gia/Gere — aye; Chen — aye; Ta (student member) — aye). - Resolution No. 13 (designate authorized representatives; submit Measure M projects): Motion to approve — Passed (same roll call: unanimous). - Resolution No. 14 (acknowledge beyond‑bond authority placement): Motion to approve — Passed (same roll call: unanimous).

What the board did not do: Adoption of the resolutions does not guarantee state funding; staff and the superintendent repeatedly noted that some categories of funding (modernization) are currently exhausted and that the district is positioning projects to be in line for future matching funding. No final funding awards or contract approvals were made at the meeting.

Ending: District staff said they will continue to update the board and meet with the board president and vice president on Measure M implementation and on next steps for the state funding applications. The district encouraged public support for Measure M‑related outreach events and oversight activities.