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SCOE trustees direct staff to secure independent inspection after Charter Safe audit at Elite Public Schools
Summary
Trustees heard that Charter Safe’s safety audit listed multiple facility concerns at Elite Public Schools but did not plan a follow-up verification. Board members directed district staff to work with Elite to secure an independent third‑party inspector or JPA insurer to confirm repairs and report back next month.
The Solano County Office of Education board on Nov. 12 asked staff to work with Elite Public Schools and the authorizer to obtain an independent inspection verifying corrections listed in a Charter Safe safety audit.
District business staff told trustees that Charter Safe, after performing a safety audit that noted electrical and other concerns, indicated it did not plan a return visit to verify repairs. Board members and staff described the report as general in places and said the MOU and contract language did not clearly require a follow-up verification. "They did not plan on coming back and doing a check through to make sure that those items were resolved," a staff speaker told the board during discussion.
Trustees pressed for next steps and agreed the practical approach is to arrange a follow-up review that focuses on the items previously listed rather than commissioning a wholly new inspection. One trustee suggested using insurer pools or a Joint Powers Authority inspector as a potentially lower-cost option; another emphasized the safety and liability angle: the authorizer must be assured that hazards were addressed. Board direction recorded was: staff should collaborate with Elite to identify an appropriate third‑party inspector (or insurer/JPA resource) to verify fixes and return to the board with an update next month.
Dr. Ramona Bishop, representing Elite in public comment, said the LEA is prioritizing repairs and will work with the board and staff to sequence work by risk, especially at an older facility. "In a building that was built in the 19 sixties...we have to prioritize those that are major safety risks," she said.
The board did not amend the MOU at the meeting but discussed amending contract language during the next renewal cycle to add specificity about follow-up inspections and timelines. Staff recommended drafting a scope for the verification so future inspectors have clear criteria to assess whether items are resolved.
