Measure T summer work completed at Vargas and HVAC projects; roofing deferred to full DSA review

District staff reported progress on Measure T projects and outlined a work plan for upcoming summers, emphasizing both completed projects and necessary schedule changes brought on by state review rules.

At the meeting, staff showed photos of Vargas Elementary's completed outdoor-learning phase 2, describing new painted play areas, ball walls and multiuse zones that staff said students were already using more actively. The board and several trustees praised the Vargas improvements; Trustee DeFazio noted positive community feedback.

Other completed summer work

The nut graf: Completed summer work included HVAC upgrades at several sites, fencing and park restroom projects, and smaller facility repairs; roofing was not completed this summer because the Division of the State Architect (DSA) required a full review, which will push roofing into next summer's schedule.

Staff said HVAC Phase 5 work was finished at Crittenden, Graham, Montaloma and Therakoff (libraries and kitchens). Maunaloma fencing and Castro, Mistral, and Landels park-restroom projects were substantially complete and turned over to cities for final steps. Photos shown at the meeting illustrated the Vargas campus transformation, with staff reporting increased student use across the playground.

DSA guidance and roofing schedule

Staff explained DSA released new interpretation guidance (an IR) shortly before summer that changed whether some like-for-like roofing replacements would be eligible for an exemption from full DSA review. Because the district could not document original 1970s roofing materials to confirm like-for-like replacement, DSA required a full submission. The district plans to submit for full DSA review and perform roofing in a consolidated effort next summer to reduce escalation and mobilization costs.

Planned next steps and priorities

Priority 2 items for summer 2026 include remaining outdoor-learning phases at other school sites, roofing phases 1 and 2, technology upgrades and Therakoff modernization. Staff noted that while some repairs are routine maintenance and funded from the general fund, capital projects that alter scope or scale may be funded under Measure T when they align with the board-approved project list.

Ending: Trustees praised completed site work and asked staff to plan for consolidated roofing work next summer to reduce cost escalation and coordinate DSA submissions.