Board approves additional design work to address Miraleste pool piping and mechanical-room issues

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board on Nov. 12 authorized additional design work to address unexpected piping and mechanical-room conditions found during demolition of the Miraleste Intermediate School pool.

Facilities staff explained that emerging mixed-metal pipe conditions and the need to meet public-health turnover rates require changes to the engineered system. The board approved an increase of up to $108,900 to the architect's design contract to produce necessary plans for pipe replacement and mechanical-room design and to enable timely review by public-health authorities and the Division of State Architects. Staff provided rough order-of-magnitude figures for potential construction-phase work that would be considered later: approximately $205,000 for additional pool piping replacement, about $150,000 to create a pump pit and circulation-pump replacement, and roughly $390,000 for mechanical-equipment replacement; those numbers were budgetary estimates pending final design and bid results.

Board members asked whether work could be phased, whether DPH or DSA opinions could be obtained sooner, and whether the district might delay some components. Staff said design is the immediate priority to avoid further schedule impacts and to permit a timely DSA/DPH path; they also said contingencies were included in prior bid phases and that the matter would return to the board with refined scope and cost information. The motion to approve the not-to-exceed amount passed by voice vote.