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District says Sunnydale construction is underway; state grants and tariffs could affect schedule
Summary
At a semi‑annual briefing, the district’s facilities consultant reported Sunnydale construction and PSTK classroom builds are underway, DSA/CDE approvals are needed for bidding and state matching grants, and the district is monitoring tariffs and labor shortages that could affect costs.
Emilio Flores, CEO of Cobalt Forest Wonders, told the Lancaster School District board that construction at Sunnydale is underway and the district is pursuing state reimbursements and matching grants to advance modernization under Measure LS.
"So our plan is to come back to you every 6 months, with update," Flores said, describing a standing six‑month reporting cadence to keep the board and public informed. He said the district has started construction at Sunnydale on new PSTK classrooms and is finalizing modernization design submissions for Monte Vista, Nancy Cory and New Vista with state review agencies.
Why it matters: Measure LS is the district’s voter‑approved bond program to modernize school facilities; getting approvals from the Division of State Architect (DSA) and the California Department of Education (CDE) is necessary before the district can bid many projects or submit applications for state matching funds. Flores said timing matters because state funds are awarded on a date‑received basis and there is a backlog of applicants.
Flores provided budget context: he identified the Measure LS bond principal source and noted a program reserve of about $33,000,000 to cover cost escalation and program changes. He also outlined a new state bond category emerging from Prop 2 funds and described eligibility rules that can favor replacement rather than modernization for very old buildings.
The presentation flagged risks that could affect cost and schedule. Flores cautioned that tariffs on lumber and steel and regional labor shortages for trades and specialty consultants (for example, hazardous‑material monitors after recent regional fires) could increase costs or delay timelines. He said the district has some capacity in its capital balances to advance projects while awaiting state reimbursement, but emphasized remaining uncertainty.
Board members asked follow‑up questions about schedule, the effect of converting some schools to K–8 configurations and how lessons learned from initial modernization work are informing later phases. Flores said the district is using phased construction to avoid shuttering whole campuses and is coordinating closely with site leaders to minimize disruption.
Next steps: Flores said the consultant team will return with a full report for board review and possible action at a later meeting and will continue the six‑month update cycle.
Speakers (attributed quotes): Emilio Flores, CEO, Cobalt Forest Wonders.
