Newport‑Mesa trustees approve lease‑leaseback and final guaranteed maximum price for summer construction across 26 schools

The Newport‑Mesa Unified School District Board of Education voted 6‑0 to ratify a lease‑leaseback agreement with Swinerton Builders and approve Amendment 1 establishing the final guaranteed maximum price for a package of summer construction and renovation projects in the Costa Mesa and Estancia High School zones.

Jeff, a district staff member presenting the item, told trustees the request authorizes work this summer on audio‑visual upgrades, playgrounds, restroom renovations and other facilities improvements intended to address deferred maintenance and to take advantage of current market conditions. “So what you have before you this afternoon is the approval of the final guaranteed maximum price for these projects that we'll be doing over the summer,” Jeff said.

The district cited a year‑over‑year construction inflation index of 5.58 percent from the California Department of General Services as part of the rationale for doing concentrated work now rather than later. Jeff said staff and contractors have taken steps to reduce schedule risk, including early‑start agreements and ordering long‑lead items in advance. He also flagged one anticipated equipment delay: multipurpose‑room lighting “light bars,” which he said are expected to arrive by October.

Trustees pressed staff on schedule risk and contingency plans. Trustee Murphy asked whether the work can be completed before the start of school; Jeff said remediation work such as asbestos abatement has already been completed and the district has contingency plans to relocate classrooms to portables or nearby schools, and to operate multipurpose rooms in a limited way until installations are finished. “We could figure out, and have plans to mitigate any kind of disruption there,” Jeff said.

Trustee Crane asked whether the contracts include incentives or remedies if contractors miss deadlines; staff replied that the contract sets a specific completion date — August 6 — with limited exceptions for events outside the contractor’s control (for example, supply‑chain interruptions). The presenter said typical contract provisions allow some leeway for events not attributable to the contractor but that the district expects the prime contractor to meet the August 6 milestone.

Trustee Anderson raised concerns about the Costa Mesa High School tennis court, which the contractor currently projects will be completed by Jan. 1; staff said they have not accelerated that schedule but will identify alternative courts so teams can continue to compete while construction is completed. Trustees asked staff to provide more frequent updates for families and recommended mid‑summer and late‑July progress reports; Annette Franco, a district staff member, said flyers have been prepared for principals and the district will use ParentSquare and other communications to notify families.

Trustee Crane moved to approve items 6a, 6b and 6c as presented; Trustee Murphy seconded. The board approved the measures by roll‑call vote, 6‑0. The chair announced the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 02:58.

What the board approved: ratification of a lease‑leaseback agreement with Swinerton Builders and approval of Amendment 1 establishing the final guaranteed maximum price for summer projects in the Costa Mesa and Estancia High School zones. The board recorded a prior procedural vote to adopt the agenda earlier in the meeting (motion carried 5‑0). Next steps noted during the meeting include bringing a separate procurement item (LMNT/Element contractor) to a future board meeting and providing regular biweekly/executive summaries of construction oversight.