Santa Paula board certifies EIR for Isbell Middle School modernization; approves professional development, library furnishings and HVAC procurement step

The Santa Paula Unified School District board certified the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the Isbell Middle School modernization after hearing a summary of the CEQA process from Meridian consultant Tony Locacciato. Locacciato explained that Isbell is on the county landmark list, which required detailed study of historic‑resource impacts; the report examined demolition and renovation alternatives and identified a renovation/retrofit alternative as the environmentally superior option. The board voted to certify the EIR; certification allows the district to consider the project but is not itself approval to proceed.

Trustees asked whether certifying the EIR commits the district to a particular course or exposes the board to legal challenge. Locacciato and staff said certification is an informational legal step under CEQA and that any later findings to move forward with a project or an alternative would need to be supported by substantial evidence in the administrative record.

On other action items, the board approved a CGI (Cognitively Guided Instruction) math professional‑development contract to continue a multi‑year training partnership (this contract funds the K–2 year of training in the coming year and continues work toward in‑house trainer development). Trustees discussed financial sustainability and the plan to reduce external consultant costs as local trainer capacity is built.

The board also approved three furniture purchases for the modernized Santa Paula High School library and described intended features — multipurpose whiteboard tables, classroom‑style seating that can be reconfigured, study rooms and community access with an on‑site restroom — to support both students and after‑hours public use. The board noted the library purchases are timed to arrive when construction is near completion.

The board approved a recommended selection of Schneider Electric as the highest‑scoring responder in the design‑build procurement for the CalSHAPE HVAC upgrade/replace (UNR) agreement; the state‑reimbursable scope covers HVAC work at multiple district sites and will return for a contract award once negotiated.

All items described in this report were approved by motions and voice/preferential votes at the meeting; where individual roll‑call tallies were not read aloud, the minutes record the motions as passed by the board.