Board reviews $31.5 million capital program and prioritization framework for aging district facilities

Davis School District business and facilities staff briefed the board on the district's capital fund and maintenance prioritization at a workshop presentation.

Business administrator Leffel (speaker S7) said the district's recurring capital program provides about $31.5 million for ongoing capital needs before bond proceeds, supported by capital-equalization allocations, interest and occasional asset sales. He listed recurring line items that include a four-year instructional device refresh, ongoing software and backend technology costs, camera refresh cycles, HVAC control replacements, vehicle replacements (roughly 10 buses per year), and a turf-replacement cycle for athletic fields.

Leffel said the district also services a local building authority payment (about $2.8 million over 20 years for Island View) from capital funds, and that small capital contingencies and engineering funds cover modest one-time planning or engineering work. He emphasized the difference between recurring capital and board-designated fund balance: designations (for example, future pool support) are set aside by the board but are not contractually obligated until the district accepts a guaranteed maximum price or signs a contract.

On bond projects, Leffel reported roughly $85 million remain from the 2022 $475 million bond to complete a small set of projects (Layton High finishing work, Kaysville remodels and one remaining field/track project likely sited in the south). He said one of three planned turf/field builds was scaled when earlier work required additional items (bleachers/lighting), leaving funding for only one more site with full extras unless the board elects alternatives.

Weston Weeks (speaker S13) described the facilities assessment and prioritization process used to set the annual maintenance list: a spreadsheet-based matrix that scores building components across all schools, coupled with maintenance work-order trends and annual site visits to refine the list. Weeks said the district maintains about 111 buildings (approximately 12 million square feet) and that more than half the facilities are approaching or exceed 50 years of age, driving heavier maintenance needs.

Weeks gave the capital-prioritization hierarchy used to allocate limited funds: (1) safety (fire alarms, security), (2) systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), (3) roofing, and (4) visible condition items (carpet, paint). He said last year roughly $7.5 million of an $8.75 million program went to safety and system work, with remaining money for roofs and condition items, and noted a continuing backlog that requires annual prioritization with principals and maintenance staff.

Board members asked about whether individual schools receive dedicated facility budgets and whether field drainage and usage concerns are captured. Weeks said schools do not receive separate facility-maintenance budgets; facility requests are submitted through a district work-order system, prioritized by maintenance, and supplemented where necessary with school-raised funds for lower-priority “wants.” On athletic fields, Weeks said condition and safety concerns are ranked and maintenance crews perform ongoing top-dressing and repairs; the district assesses field projects individually when funds become available.

Leffel said the board will likely see a guaranteed-maximum-price request for Catalyst 2 later in the year; until the district accepts that price the designation is not an obligation. The workshop concluded with no formal action taken on capital items.