Kern County staff: Central Academy expansion must meet July 27 documentation deadline or approval will be terminated

Kimberly Graham, assistant superintendent for local, regional and statewide systems of support at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), told the board on July 14 that Central Academy of Arts & Technology's (CAT) conditional material revision approved last month remains contingent on meeting prescribed safety and occupancy deadlines.

Graham said CAT submitted the material revision on May 8 requesting two additional sites and amendments to its facilities plan. The board's conditional approval requires a status update by July 10 and submission of final documentation at least five business days before the first day of student instruction; for CAT that means documentation must be in KCSOS's hands by July 27. Graham said those conditions are not advisory: "If these conditions are not satisfied, it will result in a termination of the approval of the material revision for both sites." (Kimberly Graham, assistant superintendent.)

Why it matters: The July 27 deadline determines whether CAT may legally occupy and operate at two proposed facilities when school starts on Aug. 3. KCSOS staff said the date gives them time to review extensive safety and compliance documents (building, life-safety, ADA and occupancy verifications) before students arrive.

Board and staff exchanges focused on whether narrowly missing the deadline by a few days could be accommodated. Joanna Kendrick, superintendent of Central Academy, asked the board to direct county staff to accept documentation through July 31 to avoid an automatic revocation if a certificate of occupancy arrived just after July 27. "We're respectfully asking the board to modify that condition so that we reflect what we believe is your intent when you approve the conditional material revision," Kendrick said. (Joanna Kendrick, superintendent, Central Academy of Arts and Technology.)

KCSOS staff said the July 27 date was adopted by the board at its prior meeting and that the five-business-day window is required so staff can read and confirm the completeness of documents. Graham said the building department indicated a certificate or temporary certificate of occupancy could be issued by July 27 if all pending items are addressed, but staff stressed there remain outstanding items that must be submitted and reviewed before the office can sign off.

Staff also reported a change in plans for Site 3 (the First Presbyterian Church location): CAT notified KCSOS on July 14 that Site 3 will not be used for grades 9'10 and will instead be limited to gym use; in that case all students would be sited at CAT's other locations. Graham said KCSOS will send formal written notice documenting that change and that operating at Site 3 in the future would require a material-revision notification to the authorizer.

Next steps: KCSOS staff said they will continue to receive and review documents as CAT submits them, notify trustees as items are checked off, and, if necessary, recommend a special board meeting to change the deadline. If documentation is not complete by July 27, KCSOS will terminate the material revision approval; CAT may then submit a full material revision for consideration at the August 11 meeting. The board did not take action at the July 14 meeting; the item was an informational update.