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Board reviews status of long-range facilities plan; some members urge independent review of architect work
Summary
Board members discussed the long-range facilities plan process Feb. 25. Administration described an architect-led district facility evaluation; some board members urged adding an independent review to avoid perceived conflicts of interest before projects move forward.
Board members pressed for clarity on the long-range facilities plan at the Feb. 25 Lodi Board of Education meeting, asking why the item had been removed from the prior meeting agenda and when the full board would see the draft.
Administration said architects of record completed evaluations of buildings, equipment and grounds as a diagnostic step. "This is an evaluation of our facilities and equipment throughout our school district and our grounds as well," the superintendent said, adding that the evaluation does not constitute approval to move forward with any project and that the board will retain approval authority for any projects that advance to the budget and bid stages.
At least one board member urged the district to consider an independent outside review rather than relying solely on the architect who could later be retained to design work. "Most districts... use an outside company to come in and review who have no significant gain," the board member said, calling the practice safer to avoid a perception of conflict.
Administration and the business administrator (Mr. Lam) said the next step is committee review (Finance & Facilities), after which a final long-range facilities plan will be presented to the full board and the public for discussion and approval.
The board agreed the final plan would be the subject of a public meeting and that specific projects would return to the board for budget and bid approval before work begins.
