San Marcos Unified lays out Measure JJ construction plan; sells first bond series this spring

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Tova Korman, executive director of facilities for San Marcos Unified, told the school board Thursday that the district is moving into construction on several large modernization projects funded partly by Measure JJ and other local funding sources and outlined a timeline for bond sales and an independent oversight committee.

Korman said the district will begin construction this summer on two Measure JJ-funded projects — Woodland Park and Mission Hills — and proceed with planning and phased construction at Nob Hill and Paloma elementary schools. "We're ready to start construction, as quickly as possible with these schools," Korman said. She added that the district will seek state modernization grants where eligibility exists and use redevelopment/CFD funds for some projects.

The update summarized the facilities master plan and the district's project-planning process, and listed five major projects that staff are advancing: the Carrillo Elementary drainage, turf and asphalt project; the Nob Hill renovation; the Mission Hills sitewide athletic improvements; Woodland Park modernization; and the Paloma renovation.

District staff noted that some projects use Measure JJ bond proceeds while others will be paid with redevelopment funds and Community Facilities District (CFD) proceeds. Korman said the Carrillo drainage and turf work is being paid from capital facilities and CFD funds and reported a large price increase: "This project went from $1,500,000 estimate to a whopping $12,750,000," she said, attributing the jump to extensive below‑grade concrete and drainage work required to treat an underground plume and avoid recurring groundwater intrusion.

Erin (district finance staff) told the board the district plans to sell a first series of bonds this spring to fund initial work. "We expect that to be approximately $81,000,000, and we'll be selling those in May or June," Erin said. Korman said the district expects to start Mission Hills and Woodland Park work this summer if financing and permitting proceed on schedule.

On project sequencing, Korman described a three‑phase prioritization in the facilities master plan: Phase 1 (oldest schools with the largest eligible state funding), Phase 2 (roughly 20‑year‑old schools that need moderate work), and Phase 3 (newer schools needing smaller upgrades such as security and technology). She said the board will later be asked to set priorities for subsequent projects after staff returns with spending and cost‑update reports.

Staff also described programmatic impacts: the transition to universal transitional kindergarten (TK) reduced the number of available elementary classrooms and changed capacity calculations. Korman said the district has incorporated CDE TK requirements into its needs assessment and is tracking how many elementary sites must be modified; she said the district is not currently eligible for certain state TK classroom funding because of unduplicated pupil counts and will monitor future state changes.

District staff reviewed design and approval steps, including hiring architects, geotechnical studies, Division of State Architect (DSA) plan reviews, permitting and bidding. Korman said Nob Hill and other projects are in DSA submittal or will be shortly, and staff will use interim housing plans and phased construction so schools can continue operating during work.

The presentation closed with an outline of next steps on Measure JJ governance: the board certified election results and approved Citizens Bond Oversight Committee bylaws at a prior meeting, staff launched a Measure JJ web page and an application process for the seven‑member Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, and staff said they will present committee appointments to the board on April 10.

Korman said the application window is open through March 21 at 3 p.m.; she said staff will convene an internal review committee and bring recommended appointees to the board in April. She described the oversight committee's duties as defined in Education Code and the committee bylaws: to review bond expenditures, verify bond proceeds are not used for operating costs or salaries, and confirm annual audits are performed. Korman said the oversight committee will meet publicly, likely quarterly, and that staff will convene its first meeting in May.

No substantive policy actions or bond authorizations were taken at the special meeting itself. The meeting did record routine procedural business: the board approved the special meeting agenda at the start of the session.