Bond oversight chair urges tighter planning as Broward’s Smart Bond nears closeout

Steve Hilberg, chair of the Bond Oversight Committee, told the Broward County School Board at a workshop presentation that the district must tighten early planning and reduce last‑minute project scope additions to prevent delays as the Smart Bond program moves into closeout. Hilberg said the committee’s review of the most recent facility condition assessment found rushed or incomplete needs analyses and recommended that plan reviewers and architects visit job sites earlier in the process.

"As this new condition assessment is developed, please take extra care to develop the needs analysis thoroughly and allow time for review and adjustment of the plan," Hilberg said. He credited recent revisions to the change‑order policy (referred to in the presentation as policy 8000) with improving approval speed and said the transition of Smart Bond funds to capital funds marks a milestone for the program.

Public commenters echoed the call for accountability. Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh raised concerns that walkways adjacent to Building 4 at Stranahan appeared in the facility inventory but were left out of re‑roofing work; she said she intends to raise the discrepancy with the Inspector General. Felicia Schuman, citing Florida TaxWatch and the committee report, urged the board to request an updated risk‑mitigation plan and monthly progress benchmarks as the district works to finish what Schuman described as an approximately $800,000,000 program.

Superintendent Dr. Hepburn and district staff said they have changed how fire‑safety and construction issues are handled, assigning fire officials to work within operations, convening weekly cross‑functional meetings and using a vendor to supplement staff for project closeouts. "We're going to take the time and make sure that we have the appropriate devices where they're supposed to be," the superintendent said, explaining that some devices were carved out of projects and must be brought up to current code before occupancy.

Board members pressed staff for follow‑up on specific project timelines. Board member Rupert requested status updates on multiple roofing and renovation closeouts — including Charles Drew, Deerfield Middle, Palm View, Atlantic West, Lions Creek and Margate Elementary — and staff agreed to provide answers before the end of the meeting and in subsequent communications.

The Bond Oversight Committee report also highlighted successes: the committee praised the Economic Development and Diversity Compliance department for recruiting and training small and disadvantaged local businesses and said contractors and training helped keep more than $550,000,000 circulating in the Broward economy. The committee noted completion of technology upgrades, safety improvements and other Smart Bond deliverables but warned that the overall pace of project completion remains a concern.

Next steps recorded in the workshop included staff follow‑up to board questions about specific project closeout dates and the committee’s continuing recommendation that plan reviewers and architects conduct early site visits to limit late‑stage scope changes.