Fountain Hill gets conditional land-development approval; district plans adjusted schedule

District staff reported that conditional land-development approval has been received for the Fountain Hill Elementary School construction project and that the district is proceeding to bid the job.

"We have received conditional land development approval for the Fountain Hill Elementary School construction project," said a facilities staff member. He said the approval includes roughly 50 pages of conditions from planning, zoning, engineering and the fire marshal, and that the design and engineering team are on board. The project development process began in January 2024 and reached the conditional-approval milestone in January 2025.

Because of a tight schedule and the need to complete asbestos remediation and heavy site work before winter freeze, staff proposed moving the last day of instruction at Fountain Hill from June 9 to June 2 to open an additional week for remediation and site preparation. The move is intended to preserve the September 10 milestone for beginning site work. The board discussed family impacts, childcare coverage and continuity of special-education services during the change.

Staff said childcare currently provided at Fountain Hill will be served at Dunnigan to maintain services during the adjusted schedule. The district also said it will hold multiple stakeholder meetings and communications to prepare families and staff for the transition to temporary locations while construction occurs.

Bids for the project were discussed; the facilities staff first referenced a January 28 deadline and then corrected that to February 28. No formal contract award was made at the combined-committee meeting; the project and related bid schedule are on the board's January 27 agenda and will return for action at the appropriate meeting.