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Colton Unified outlines Measure BB priorities as district faces roughly $1.9B in facility needs
Summary
Facility Director Owen Chang and consultant Randy Duncan told the board the recently passed $225 million Measure BB bond will be prioritized for safety, classroom modernization and removing deteriorating portables; district needs are assessed at about $1.9 billion, and staff expect to finalize the highest‑priority projects for the first bond sale by June 5.
District facility leaders presented a multi-part plan on May 1 for using Measure BB funds and pursuing matching state grants to address aging campuses and safety needs across the Colton Joint Unified School District.
"It is truly transformational," said Owen Chang, facility director, describing the new Colton High School culinary facility that recently opened and other projects nearing completion. Chang outlined current projects (staff parking and EV charging at Grand Terrace, a new TK/kindergarten building at Grimes Elementary, and field and lighting renovations at Bloomington and Joe Baca made possible in part by county ARPA funds).
Assistant Superintendent Gregory Fromm said Measure BB, which voters approved last fall for $225 million, is a first step against an estimated district facilities need of about $1.9 billion. Fromm estimated the district could take a first bond series for roughly $100 million this year and then additional series later, and urged strategic use of the funds to maximize state matching opportunities.
Consultant Randy Duncan walked the board through prioritization criteria the team used: safety and security, stakeholder engagement, age and condition of buildings, portable classroom replacement, capacity needs for dual immersion and special‑day classes, and opportunities to pursue state Prop 2 modernization and Career Technical Education grants. The staff analysis found the district currently operates roughly 480 portable classrooms (106 leased and 374 owned), representing about 19.7% of the district's infrastructure by classroom area; removing leased portables could reduce general‑fund pressures tied to lease payments (about $694,000 per year reported).
Duncan recommended focusing early efforts on replacing the oldest and poorest‑condition portables and completing shovel‑ready projects to avoid further escalation in construction costs. Chang and Randy also cautioned that tariffs, supply‑chain constraints and regulatory approval timelines (DSA) create implementation risk and argued for conservative contingency budgets and aggressive pursuit of state grants; they noted potential matching funds approaching $89 million for eligible projects.
Board members praised the community engagement (more than 2,400 survey responses and site visits) and directed staff to finalize the highest‑priority project list for board approval on June 5 so the district can set the amount for the initial bond sale and begin architect solicitations and design work.
