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District says HVAC replacements and solar inspections are under way as facilities needs outpace Measure J funds
Summary
Facilities staff told the board that Measure J funds are fully allocated, deferred maintenance funds are depleted, and roughly half of the district’s ~2,000 HVAC units are at or past life expectancy; staff described 275 unit replacements to date and planned solar inspections after SunPower’s bankruptcy.
Melanie Coslo, executive director of maintenance, operations and facilities, gave a detailed update to the board on April 22 about capital projects, system needs and planning.
Coslo said Measure J (2018) funded major campus modernizations and technology infrastructure but that all Measure J money is currently committed and the district still faces extensive needs across 55+ sites. She told the board that about half of the district’s roughly 2,000 HVAC units were at or beyond life expectancy and that staff have replaced approximately 250 units through the Schneider contract plus about 25 other units (about 275 replacements total), representing roughly an eighth of the district inventory.
"We've replaced 275 units... that's about an eighth of the district's HVAC equipment," Coslo said, noting some campuses and auxiliary spaces remain unconditioned and that full mechanical modernizations trigger more extensive design and electrical work.
On solar, Coslo said the district’s original installer (SunPower) filed bankruptcy, affecting monitoring and maintenance. The district has contracted an inspection program that began over spring break and expects inspections to be completed in June; staff will return with data comparing solar generation to building consumption and propose a maintenance procurement.
Trustees and staff also discussed preparing for a possible November 2026 bond: staff described community surveys and three upcoming mailers for outreach. Several trustees urged inclusion of professional project managers in future bond measures to ensure funds are spent according to objectives and to provide stronger oversight for complex contracts.
What’s next: Staff will finish solar inspections in June, present energy generation and consumption analysis, and outline bond planning details and proposed project‑management approaches for future board consideration.
