Fullerton HSD outlines $145M+ pipeline, recommends lease-leaseback delivery for several large projects

District facilities leaders told the Fullerton Joint Union High School District Board that the district is positioning to deliver roughly $145 million of projects beginning in the 2026 construction season and completing many projects by 2028. Assistant Superintendent Ruben Hernandez and Senior Director of Facilities Vin Mattson described available funding (Measure I, Measure L, state matching and potential hardship funds) totaling about $551 million when combined.

Staff presented delivery-method options (design-bid-build, design-build, lease-leaseback) and recommended lease-leaseback for several large projects that include an athletic two-story building at Fullerton High (rough budget ~$27 million), a Troy High seismic modernization (~$40 million), and three track-and-field projects (roughly $14 million each). A standalone hard-bid Sonora Science Lab was estimated at $7–8 million.

Mattson described the lease-leaseback procurement steps: advertisement, mandatory job walk (23 contractors attended), prequalification (17 prequalified), interviews (9 firms interviewed), and a short list of three firms recommended for preliminary services agreements (Erickson Hall, Balfour Beatty, and Bernards). Staff said the lease-leaseback process allows architects and contractors to collaborate early to reduce escalation risk and to develop guaranteed maximum prices to present for board action in early 2026.

Board members asked for timeline clarifications and for more detail on summer projects; Mattson said roughly 32 projects are active this summer (roofing, fencing, painting, culinary arts remodel, flooring) and that DSA approvals are pending on some items. Staff will return with preliminary service agreements and a recommended guaranteed price for board consideration in early 2026.