District outlines Measure LS construction plan, says state grants and a bond sale could fund next phase

Emilio Flores, a consultant with CFW, told the Lancaster School Board that the district’s Measure LS facilities program is progressing with multiple modernization and new-construction projects under way and additional grant applications planned.

Flores said the original facilities plan (adopted in January 2024) emphasizes modern learning environments, expansion of universal prekindergarten and prioritized modernization of aging sites. He said three projects are under construction and that the team is advancing design for additional sites so the district can line up for state funding.

“This program looks to prioritize implementation of modern learning environments, provide a mechanism to expand UPK, and to really address some of the aging facilities throughout the district in a meaningful and logical progression,” Flores said. He pointed the board to specific construction progress, interior work and ADA-driven changes (including relocating interior doors to meet current code) required by Division of the State Architect (DSA) reviews.

Flores detailed the district’s funding picture. He said the district has received a $5,400,000 PSC KK grant and that, under the rules of Proposition 2, the district is eligible for approximately $55,700,000 in modernization grants and roughly $24,500,000 in new-construction eligibility. Flores added that the district has already applied for about $4,900,000 in modernization funding and expects to file another approximately $56,500,000 in applications over the next six months as design approvals advance.

“If you see a large spike in TK/K grades, it actually has an outsized impact on the state projections,” Flores said, noting that the state also gives credit for final housing maps that have been filed and approved.

Flores described two ways to advance the program while waiting for state reimbursements: pause until reimbursements arrive, or accelerate work by issuing bonds. He said preliminary analysis suggests the district could issue about $30,000,000 as early as fiscal 2026–27.

Board members asked how local development and short-term enrollment changes affect state projections and grant eligibility; Flores reiterated the state’s methodology and urged the board to advance design work now so the district is eligible when grant cycles open. He also described logistical challenges such as the need to close out older DSA projects, locate a current inspector of record for legacy files, and coordinate phased construction while students remain on site.

The district plans to return with a fuller facilities master-plan update in September that will include classroom-by-classroom inventories and more detailed budgeting and sequencing information, Flores said.