HUSD prepares for influx of bond funds
Measure D was on the ballot in November, and it passed easily, approving $67 million in funds for Healdsburg Unified School District. Bond funds can only be used to pay for construction projects and there are laws regarding how the bonds can be sold, so an overall implementation plan is required to find a way forward.
At the recent HUSD Board of Trustees meeting, Counterpoint Construction Project Manager Tenaya Dale presented the history of the bond as well as the implementation plan for the funds for board approval.
According to Dale, in June of 2016 the board held a workshop to review the projects for the Master Plan for the Arts, Athletics and Ag programs at the high school and junior high school campuses in Healdsburg. It was out of these discussions that a bond value for Measure D was created, and after measure D passed there was a Dec. 2016 meeting between the architect and Counterpoint Construction management to discuss the implementation plan.
The sequencing of the construction plan was based on need and potential disruption of programs. An example given by Dale was that having both the high school and junior high gyms under construction at the same time would prevent any home games from taking place for either of the schools, so it was best to work on those two projects at different times.
In addition, bond sales can only occur every two years, and for approximately one-third of the total bond value (approximately $22 million) and bond projects cannot be awarded to contractors prior to funds being available. Thus, projects had to be grouped according to financial availability as well.
Projected construction dates begin in March of 2017 and run through 2022. To see a list of projects, costs and schedules, see the sidebar.
In addition to Measure D funds, Dale said that funds from the recently passed state proposition 51 may come available to aid in additional cash flow, but that she was not factoring that into her current plans, due to issues with the state not moving quickly to distribute the funds and a long line of districts looking for their share. She estimates HUSD’s share would be in the neighborhood of $7 million. There may be additional grants available, which Dale will continue to explore in order to maximize funding.
The board voted unanimously to approve the plan, however board president Vince Dougherty did have a few concerns about some spending and timelines. He was concerned that the baseball and softball fields are in bad shape and potentially dangerous and shouldn’t be put off until the third and final bond sale. He also balked at the price tag for the new theater building, but several other members and Dale explained it was more of a multi-use space that just a theater. Dougherty asked if it would be possible to arrange a visit to a similar building in the area so he could better conceptualize how the money would be spent, and the board agreed that would be a good idea.
