District outlines summer facilities projects and says Robla Elementary field needs urgent repair

The Robla School District Board of Trustees was updated on the district's summer facilities projects, with staff detailing playground and shade-structure installations, roofing work and turf-field replacements across multiple elementary campuses and identifying significant problems with the turf at Robla Elementary.

District facilities presenter Neil told the board the update was intended to "present an update of what we what we accomplished for this school during the year and where we are working on it." He described new play structures, shade canopies and modular classroom moves at several campuses and said several items remain in progress pending approvals and manufacturing timelines.

The presentation listed work at Bell Avenue, Glenwood, Main Avenue, Taylor Street and Robla Elementary schools. Among items discussed were replacing two roofs, adding new turf fields, replacing wood-chip surfacing with soft-surface play areas, installing metal shade structures and relocating a library space between sites. Neil said the district is "working on" a new turf field and that some projects are awaiting DSA approval or manufacturing details for installed components.

Board members asked about accessibility and play-surface designs; staff said several new play structures are flat-level (not inset) to improve accessibility and that prior bark surfaces have been replaced with compliant soft surfacing at some sites. Neil noted a play structure intentionally built for the district's Play Pals program for children under 2 so that younger students have age-appropriate equipment.

Neil also singled out Robla Elementary's field as needing immediate attention, saying installers had to "peel the weeds," and that the turf was not yet in the condition the district intended. "I was promised that we will turn it around," he said, adding staff and contractors will continue work over the summer to level and clean the field and replace bark surfacing with a soft landing surface where appropriate.

During the meeting the board approved several facilities-related contracts and services connected to the projects. The board voted unanimously to: approve installation of perimeter ramps and replacement playground surfacing at Robla Elementary and Taylor Street Elementary by Flex Ground Company; approve inspector-of-record services with BH Inspection Management for multiple summer projects; and approve architectural services for relocation of modular classrooms at Glenwood. Trustees also approved contracts required for DSA-related work and modular relocations.

Trustees pressed staff for a facilities master plan timeline and were told the district is preparing to procure a contractor for a more extensive facilities master plan that will include deferred maintenance and the additional elements required under recent state rules. Neil said a contract for that work is anticipated in coming months. Trustees requested clarified schedules and visual materials for public distribution and asked staff to include projected timelines in future updates.

The district indicated most action items tied to the presentation passed by unanimous vote. The board did not set exact completion dates for all projects but staff said much of the work is scheduled for summer months and will continue into the next school year while some items remain contingent on external approvals or manufacturing lead times.

Less-critical details include pictures staff shared of completed and in-progress work at each site, plans for soft-surface replacements at preschool playgrounds and plans to replace older playground borders to make surfaces level and ADA-accessible.

Board members thanked facilities staff and directed them to return with a facilities master plan contract and a public-facing infographic showing which contractors and programs will be at each school.