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After DSA delays, Jurupa Unified weighs three options to modernize Rustic Lane Elementary
Summary
District staff told trustees DSA plan-check delays have forced a re-evaluation of Rustic Lane modernization logistics and presented three options—occupy (3 years), vacate (2 years with Pacific Avenue interim housing) or a hybrid—each with trade-offs for cost, schedule and safety; board will vote in February.
Paula Ford and Dr. Trent Hansen told the Jurupa Unified School District Board on Jan. 20 that delays at the Division of State Architect (DSA) have forced staff to revisit the Rustic Lane Elementary modernization timeline and logistics. Ford said DSA is "severely inundated" and that "they had over 9,900 projects that were submitted, valuing over $6,600,000,000" to plan and review — a backlog that alters previous project timelines.
Staff presented three options for the board's consideration: (1) keep Rustic Lane occupied while modernizing in phases over an estimated three school years (April 2026–March 2029), (2) temporarily vacate Rustic Lane and house students and staff at Pacific Avenue Academy of Music for two school years (return summer 2028), or (3) a hybrid in which select new construction would occur while students remain on campus for one year followed by a temporary move for the second year.
Ford said the occupied option extends the project and increases monthly project-management and contractor escalation costs; vacating requires temporary housing costs and transportation for eligible students but shortens the overall construction timeline. When trustees asked about relative cost differences, Ford's team said they "can anticipate between a 5 and a 10% savings" between an occupied site and a fully vacated site, while noting that hybrid and vacated options still carry temporary-housing expenses.
Trustees raised questions about community outreach, potential dust and construction impacts in nearby neighborhoods, temporary-capacity constraints at Pacific Avenue and whether the district had surveyed staff and neighbors; staff said they will engage the community after the board selects a direction at the February meeting and that safety, traffic flow and communication plans will be part of the implementation work.
The board did not make a final decision; staff will return in February with recommended next steps and more detailed cost estimates.
