Carmel Unified outlines facilities master plan update; community input planned before Prop 2 guidance finalized
Summary
Chief operations officer Dan Paul reported completed condition assessments, modernization needs and staff/student priorities (HVAC, classroom size, restrooms). The district will hold at least one community session in January and is preparing documentation to pursue Prop 2 modernization eligibility.
Chief Operations Officer Dan Paul updated the Carmel Unified board on the district's facilities master plan, describing completed condition assessments, modernization priorities and a planned community input process.
Paul said the architect contract was approved in September and that the state has not yet issued final Prop 2 guidance required for certain plan elements; the district has completed preliminary work and will finalize details once state guidance is released. He explained the difference between deferred maintenance (restoration to original condition) and modernization (upgrades to efficiency, technology and instructional space), noting many campus systems date from modernization work done before 2005.
Site engagement surfaced recurring themes: classroom-size concerns (Carmel Middle School classrooms are smaller than the state standard), HVAC and high-temperature issues at the high school, restroom access (students asked for more restrooms and all-gender options), safety upgrades (fencing, controlled entrances, PA systems) and outdoor learning and playground improvements. Paul said student feedback at the high school prioritized restrooms and circulation, and staff raised concerns about music classrooms, specialized spaces and electrical charging needs for technology.
On project sequencing, Paul described a phasing plan for the high school intended to minimize disruption to campus operations. He also explained that the Division of State Architects reviews construction-ready plans rather than master plans and that updated master plans are needed to pursue Prop 2 modernization reimbursement eligibility. The district plans one community input session in January and staff said any bond proposal would come later with a separate public discussion.
Trustees asked about the number and location of community meetings and whether bond planning would be part of the initial outreach; staff said the update will focus on revising an existing plan, stakeholders will be engaged and bond discussions would be separate when the board chooses to pursue funding.
