Arcadia Unified board approves $7.08 million contract for Arcadia High locker-room modernization

The Arcadia Unified School District board voted unanimously to award a lease–leaseback contract to Erickson Hall Construction to modernize Arcadia High School's locker rooms and provide interim housing during construction. District staff said the negotiated lease–leaseback cost is $7,083,903 and that the project is being scheduled on an accelerated 8–9 month timeline.

District staff described two delivery options considered for the project and said the lease–leaseback approach offered schedule and risk-transfer advantages over a hard-bid contract. "This delivery method is explicitly permitted under education code 17 4 0 6," a district presenter said, and staff explained how the approach can allow for collaborative planning and a guaranteed maximum price.

Administrators told the board that the district's initial budget set two years earlier was $6,500,000 and that negotiations, value engineering and schedule accelerations informed the final recommendation. "Our initial budget set 2 years prior was $6,500,000. Through negotiations with Erickson Hall and the implementation of value engineering, a team based approach focused on cost effective alternatives, the negotiated lease leaseback cost is now $7,083,903," staff said.

Board members asked about the expected timeline, trade-offs compared with hard bids, and how the project will align with bond funding. District staff said hard bids had produced longer schedules (approximately 13 months) while the selected lease–leaseback approach offered a faster completion window and other cost controls. The motion to award the contract carried on a 4–0 voice vote.