Laguna Beach board approves contracts for $18.8 million LBHS pool modernization amid funding plan and public debate

Laguna Beach — The Laguna Beach Unified School District board on Jan. 16 approved contracts to modernize the Laguna Beach High School pool, moving forward with an $18,813,222 hard-cost construction package and an additional $2,176,305 in construction services.

The project team said the hard cost, plus soft costs and contingencies, brings the district’s best estimate to about $23.67 million, with a low-end projection near $21.79 million and a high-end scenario up to roughly $25 million if the project encounters weather or other delays. Facilities director Ryan (surname cited in the meeting) told trustees that structural procurement will begin once contracts are approved so long-lead items will be on hand when construction begins in June and physical work will proceed during the 2026 summer schedule to limit campus disruption.

“This project is largely outdoors and therefore exposed to weather and scheduling risk,” the facilities presentation says; project contingency was described as about 10% of hard costs. Superintendent Dr. Glass and finance staff described a funding strategy that uses assigned funds, transfers from the general fund and anticipated sources such as a state Prop. 2 matching allocation and annual CIP/FRRP transfers. Staff said the district currently has about $20.4 million in assigned funding and anticipates additional property-tax and program revenues; they estimated a remaining funding gap of roughly $1.39 million to $4.6 million that the board will revisit in March or April 2027 as revenues are confirmed.

The meeting drew a lengthy public-comment period. Students and athletes urged approval. Samia Bridal, a LBHS sophomore and varsity swimmer, said she began swimming at the campus pool when she was 8 and asked trustees to approve the funding so the program will be safe and accessible. “We have been saving this much for this much needed project for years, and we have the money to pay for the project,” Samia said.

Community members urged both action and caution. Construction and budgeting questions—cost escalation, contingency adequacy and how the district will fill the small remaining gap—dominated board questions. One resident advised a larger contingency than the 10% line item; another suggested the district launch a community fundraising campaign to reduce the gap.

Trustees debated timing and trade-offs. Several trustees warned that delaying the project would likely increase cost—one estimate cited an 8–10% premium for a one-year delay—and noted ongoing operational failures at the current pool (broken heaters, scoreboard problems). “We’ve been asking for this pool for years,” a public speaker said. The board also discussed neighborhood impacts and plan changes that were made after community review, including mitigation of light and sound.

The board approved the contracts for construction services and the not-to-exceed amount for the construction services package. The motions passed during a late-night vote; student board members recorded support and the district clerk recorded the motions as approved.

Next steps: staff will report back in March–April 2027 with finalized funding details and to request assignment of any remaining project dollars. Construction procurement for long-lead items will continue immediately.

Questions about which specific discretionary funds will be used to cover any remaining gap and the contingency sizing remain open for the March/April staff follow-up.