Board approves $329,834.58 for Vandenberg and SRAC swing-space prep as district outlines major relocations

The Southfield Board of Education voted unanimously to approve Report 64 12, authorizing $329,834.58 to prepare Vandenberg and the Southfield Regional Activity Center (SRAC) to serve as swing-space sites for several school relocations tied to the district's bond construction program.

Superintendent Jennifer Green said the district is undertaking multiple moves for construction and renovation work. "Boerne K-8 will leave their current location on Evergreen in January and divide into two campuses for the spring semester," Green said, describing a December break move window intended to limit classroom disruption. She said lower grades will use Vandenberg and upper grades will use the Southfield Regional campus while construction proceeds.

Green said other moves are planned across the district: Levy will return to its nine-mile campus in 2026; University K-12 Academy scholars will be split among three temporary sites (elementary to Vandenberg, middle school to Eisenhower, high school to Southfield A&T) while its new campus is built; McIntyre will close next year with its scholars moving into a renovated Boerne building. The district is scheduling family forums, staff meetings and written communications to address arrival/dismissal timing, licensing concerns for on-site providers and transportation impacts.

The board heard that swing-space preparation funding will come from capital improvements rather than bond funds because the work is maintenance/rehabilitation to make the buildings safe and usable while they are temporary homes. Green and operations staff also warned trustees of significant, unanticipated underground work: modern stormwater requirements for several campuses have produced additional construction costs described by staff as "several million dollars" beyond original estimates. The board asked for a future study session that will "take a deep dive" into stormwater and other underground costs so the public can understand why some bond dollars are being used for unseen infrastructure work.

Operations staff outlined move-management logistics and costs: boxes and trailers are being used to store classroom materials during moves; the district reported paying roughly $10,000 per month for trailer storage and trustees asked for options to limit storage costs and for a possible formal storage-size restriction. Green said move-management teams are working with principals and that meetings with staff have already begun; the district has started delivering boxes and planning timelines for packing and purge of unneeded materials.

Contractors and professional services referenced in the bond and swing-space packets included Arch Environmental (air monitoring/abatement), French Associates (stormwater investigations and design amendments) and Environmental Maintenance Engineers (abatement contractor). The board was also presented a bond dashboard and updates from Plant Moran Realpoint, the district's construction adviser.

The motion to approve the Vandenberg and SRAC swing-space preparations carried by unanimous roll call. Trustees were told contingency is included in the approved amount and that unused contingency is rolled back into project funds at project close-out. The board scheduled follow-up study sessions and additional public communications as the move program proceeds.

Trustees and staff emphasized the district's commitment to clear, frequent communications with families about pick-up/drop-off logistics, arrival and dismissal locations, and licensing for on-site partners (for example, Champions). No additional formal action was taken on storage restrictions during the meeting; trustees requested a future item with cost figures and options.