Board hears Measure J update: 50% estimate puts main building near $13.15 million, staff to pursue cost reductions

Bill Savage, the presenter on the Measure J update, told trustees the district’s 50% construction-document estimate was significantly higher than the project budget. "13,150,000 after all the markups, contingencies, and allowances," he said, and explained that the direct subcontractor cost was roughly $9,000,008.76 before markups.

Savage walked the board through allowances that drive cost—$100,000 for theater rigging, $50,000 for concrete spall and dry-rot repairs, $200,000 for ornamental fences and gates—and a range of value-engineering options he estimated could cut about $2.8 million in scope. He warned that structural upgrades (adding steel tube columns, potential shoring) are required for seismic safety and that these items constrain what can be deferred.

Superintendent (speaker 2) and trustees pressed staff on phasing options and timing uncertainties tied to state and federal funding. Savage said state replacement-value calculations used by the Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) are much lower than actual construction cost estimates but noted that, under OPSC rules, exceeding 50% of replacement value could unlock additional seismic funding. He described pursuing a financial-hardship review and working with consultants in Sacramento to seek extra state assistance.

The board discussed next steps: (1) more detailed cost clarification with the architect and contractor on site; (2) value-engineering decisions that preserve critical structural work; (3) preparing a schedule and timeline for bidding that includes hard drop-dead dates; and (4) convening an advisory committee and a possible special board meeting in November to review contractor and architect input. Staff said phasing would likely lengthen construction and campus disruption but might be necessary to stay within available cash and bond anticipation notes.