Calexico Unified board directs staff to seek financing to close Measure Q shortfall after $82M cost estimate

Calexico Unified School District trustees voted unanimously to authorize district staff to seek financing and state reimbursements after staff presented a construction estimate that exceeded current Measure Q funding.

The board heard a detailed Measure Q update from Superintendent Himenez, architect Jimmy Sanders and construction representatives, who described a multi‑building high‑school plan (administration/student services, STEM labs, a 20,000‑square‑foot cafeteria and an indoor athletic fieldhouse) and a two‑increment schedule that begins with site work. Presenters said the district currently holds about $57 million in Measure Q and related funds but that the construction estimate provided by the district’s construction team is about $82 million, producing a projected shortfall.

“We have spent nine of the 47, and we’re still sitting at 57 million,” Superintendent Himenez said during the presentation, noting the district is using only Measure Q dollars for the project. The consultants and contractor described three financing scenarios presented to the board: (1) proceed with the full scope at an estimated $82 million; (2) apply value engineering savings (presenters estimated roughly $4.4 million of potential savings); or (3) reduce scope (presenters used removal of the indoor athletic ‘doghouse’ as an example) to lower costs.

Staff also outlined state reimbursement eligibility that could offset some costs but would arrive on a multi‑year timeline. Presenters described district eligibility lines (the presentation cited roughly $21 million of high‑school eligibility and about $6 million for seismic mitigation, with a larger district‑level eligibility figure cited later) and said the Office of Public School Construction and other state programs require approvals and draw on limited funds, so reimbursements are not immediate. Consultants estimated that state reimbursements could take approximately five to seven years to deliver following project completion and application.

Trustees discussed risk and timing before signaling support for pursuing the full program while continuing value engineering. “I would like to see us make every effort possible to move forward with the project as is,” President Contas said, urging staff to pursue financing and bring back details on repayment schedules and interest costs. Multiple trustees described the decision as a calculated risk that they preferred to take now rather than delay and face higher future costs.

President Contas then moved that staff be authorized to pursue the funding necessary to deliver the project as presented, to explore financing vehicles (loans, certificates of participation, lease‑leaseback and other instruments), and to return to the board with the financing terms and quarterly project and budget reports. The board voted 5–0 to approve the motion.

The board’s authorization is procedural: staff will now pursue financing opportunities and state reimbursements and return with specific terms for trustee approval. Administrators said they will continue weekly project oversight, pursue additional reimbursements and value‑engineering measures, and bring detailed financing proposals and timelines back to the board before any construction contracts are awarded for increment two.