schoolnews Pomona USD Plans for Improvement By: Dr. Thelma Melendez, Superintendent, Pomona USD (back row, fourth from left), 2008-09 Superintendent of the Year; and Dr. Glenn Massengale, HMC Architects President Barack Obama (top center) visits Pomona Unified School District’s Village Academy High School students Photo courtesy of: Kim Washburn of VMA Communications Spring/Summer 2009 T he Pomona Unified School District, like all school districts in California, is facing so many issues it’s hard to know where to begin. The District has been declining in enrollment for the past several years. The District itself, and many individual schools within the district, are identi- fied for program improvement. The District is experiencing public rela- tions issues related to campus safety, quality of instruction, and internal and external communication. Financial resources are shrinking while ex- penses are increasing. And the cam- puses themselves are aged and need repair. So, what’s so unusual about these conditions? Nothing: what is unusual is the approach to remedy them. Pomona USD has decided to consolidate the issues under a single framework and address every concern as part of a coordinated effort. The framework is aptly titled, “Master Framework to Manage, Maintain, and Program District Facilities.” Isn’t this just a fancy name for conduct- ing a facilities master plan? Actually, no—what is unique about the Pomona framework is that the facilities master plan is being used to develop and implement a complete school reform package. Although one of the primary purposes of the effort is to improve the condition and relevancy of the facilities, the planning process engages a variety of stakeholders in discussions about in- structional quality and curriculum needs; community perception and engage- ment; equity of resources; community, business, and higher education partner- ships; enrollment loss and competitive standards of performance; finances and other resources; and organizational and operational models for success. The approach itself ultimately proposes to focus resources on a consolidated effort for comprehensive school and District improvement. Advisory and high school cluster com- mittee workshops and community dialogues were held during the spring of 2008. An electronic staff survey was conducted in May 2008. As a result of these various forums, data regarding the critical issues of the District was collected, analyzed, and presented to the Governing Board in the summer of 2008. Final recommendations were presented to the District prior to its successful $235 million general obliga- tion bond election in November 2008. Pomona USD engaged HMC Architects in 2007 to begin the development of this framework. Continued on page 3 Inside: 2 Portable to Permanent— Transforming a High School 5 HMC Cost Exchange 6 Partners Seeking Solutions post consumer recycled fiber
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schoolnews
Pomona USD Plans for ImprovementBy: Dr. Thelma Melendez, Superintendent, Pomona USD (back row, fourth from left),
2008-09 Superintendent of the Year; and Dr. Glenn Massengale, HMC Architects
President Barack Obama (top center) visits Pomona Unified School District’s Village Academy High School students
Photo courtesy of: Kim Washburn of VMA Communications Spring/Summer 2009
The Pomona Unified School
District, like all school districts in
California, is facing so many issues
it’s hard to know where to begin.
The District has been declining in
enrollment for the past several years.
The District itself, and many individual
schools within the district, are identi-
fied for program improvement. The
District is experiencing public rela-
tions issues related to campus safety,
quality of instruction, and internal and
external communication. Financial
resources are shrinking while ex-
penses are increasing. And the cam-
puses themselves are aged and need
repair. So, what’s so unusual about
these conditions? Nothing: what is
unusual is the approach to remedy
them. Pomona USD has decided
to consolidate the issues under a
single framework and address every
concern as part of a coordinated effort.
The framework is aptly titled, “Master
Framework to Manage, Maintain, and
Program District Facilities.”
Isn’t this just a fancy name for conduct-
ing a facilities master plan? Actually,
no—what is unique about the Pomona
framework is that the facilities master
plan is being used to develop and
implement a complete school reform
package. Although one of the primary
purposes of the effort is to improve the
condition and relevancy of the facilities,
the planning process engages a variety
of stakeholders in discussions about in-
structional quality and curriculum needs;
community perception and engage-
ment; equity of resources; community,
business, and higher education partner-
ships; enrollment loss and competitive
standards of performance; finances and
other resources; and organizational and
operational models for success. The
approach itself ultimately proposes
to focus resources on a consolidated
effort for comprehensive school and
District improvement.
Advisory and high school cluster com-
mittee workshops and community
dialogues were held during the spring
of 2008. An electronic staff survey was
conducted in May 2008. As a result of
these various forums, data regarding
the critical issues of the District was
collected, analyzed, and presented to
the Governing Board in the summer
of 2008. Final recommendations were
presented to the District prior to its
successful $235 million general obliga-
tion bond election in November 2008.
Pomona USD engaged HMC
Architects in 2007 to begin the
development of this framework.
Continued on page 3
Inside:2 Portable to Permanent—
Transforming a High School
5 HMC Cost Exchange
6 Partners Seeking Solutions
post consumer recycled fiber
Portable to Permanent–Transforming a High School By: Don Lussier, Coordinator Facilities Division, Corona-Norco USD; Kevin Wilkeson
and Steve Wilkerson, Principals, HMC Irvine; and Gilbert Baez, Project Manager, HMC Irvine
There Has Never Been a Better Time to BidBy: Ed Mierau, President, Neff Construction, President of Association of California Construction Managers (ACCM); Dana LeSher,
Vice President, Harris and Associates, Vice President of ACCM; and Sam Bouland, Senior Estimator, HMC Ontario
CostExchangeSpring/Summer 2009
5
“With severe challenges to the construction industry, this reality also
presents significant opportunities for school districts that plan to
develop projects within this economy.”
Mitch Carp, Senior Vice President, Business Services, HMC Architects
6
L-R: Ed Mireau, Anna Ferrera, Ted Rozzi, Scott Gorzeman, and Tom Cavanagh
OPINIONSpring/Summer 2009www.schooladvisors.com
In response to the current economic crisis, School Advisors hosted “Pre-K-12
Facility Funding: Partners Seeking Solutions” in both Southern and Northern
California. The workshops addressed the financial impacts of planning and
construction for school projects across the state. Open dialog focused on
ideas and solutions to explore and promote the development of sound financial
strategies to minimize the effects of the State’s financial crisis on school
construction projects.
Held on February 11th and 12th, one week prior to the finalization of the
federal economic stimulus package and two weeks before the resolution
of the California state budget crisis, educational facility directors and other
school district representatives had the opportunity to hear from a panel of
industry experts.
Southern California panelists included: Ed Mireau (Neff Construction), Ted Rozzi
(Corona-Norco Unified School District and past C.A.S.H. Chair), and Anna
Ferrera (Californians for School Facilities). Northern California panelists included:
Kevin Gordon (School Innovations and Advocacy), Terry Bradley (Clovis Unified
School District), Kathleen Moore (California Department of Education), and Dana
LeSher (Harris and Associates). Scott Gorzeman (Bank of America) and Tom
Cavanagh (School Advisors) were panelists at both workshops.
Scott Gorzeman stated that the market had been receptive in January 2009 of
local district GO bond issuances, which had not been the case in the later part
of 2008. He also presented various alternative or interim financing options for
Partners Seeking SolutionsBy: Tom Cavanagh, Senior Vice President, School Advisors
districts held up by the State’s funding
freeze that were bridge Certificates of
Participation (COPs), Bond Authorization
Notes (BANs), and Grant Anticipation
Notes (GANs). Bank letters of credit
have become increasingly more difficult
to come by and districts are finding it
difficult to enter the market. GANs are
available for those districts that have
received an apportionment but not a
fund release. Bottom-line, there are
options available to bridge this fiscal
crisis, but the market will continue to
be volatile so it is important to keep an
eye on funding thresholds and project
commitments.
Current School Facility Program (SFP)
deadlines for normal projects, joint-use,
and CTE facilities have been suspended
or extended, providing relief for districts
without access to alternative financial
mechanisms to move projects forward.
Federal stimulus monies have been
approved. California, however has yet to
determine the actual funding formula or
when the distribution might occur.
Ed and Dana stressed the many
opportunities in the bidding
environment for those projects that
can move forward. The panelists
also cautioned about the glut of
contractors from other construction
fields moving into the education
arena and their unfamiliarity with the
laws and guidelines that govern the
construction of schools.
In conclusion, both Ted Rozzi and
Terry Bradley stressed the importance
of recognizing these difficult times
and the value of understanding the
business or financial side of your
district. They cautioned against
becoming too focused on the
facilities aspects and loosing sight of
the district’s budget situation. They
suggested everyone take this time
to position themselves and their
departments for the future. Sound
advice indeed.
Tom can be reached at:
tom.cavanagh@
schooladvisors.com
L-R: Ed Mireau, Anna Ferrera, Ted Rozzi, Scott Gorzeman, and Tom Cavanagh