Voter support for the bond funding would provide part of the total $1.7 billion Elk Grove says it needs to make general upgrades to its schools — including patching roofs, providing updated technology and keeping air conditioners running — and support some new construction. The funds would also help build several new campuses to accommodate the nearly 14,000 additional students that are expected in the district in the next 10 years, according to officials at a February school board meeting.

The proposed plan would require homeowners in the Elk Grove district to pay $38 per $100,000 of assessed property value annually, according to the Sacramento Bee. The average residence would pay approximately $96.52 annually, said Robert Pierce, Elk Grove Unified School District’s associate superintendent of facilities and planning.

According to Pierce, many in the community believe that Elk Grove Unified is a new district, but the average district school is about 20 years old. Major updates to sports fields, libraries and school offices are greatly needed. The district plans to devote all bond money received to improving and repairing existing schools, but its ability to use funds exclusively for repairs relies on the statewide initiative passing. If the initiative does not pass, the funds would have to support projects deemed essential for the community, which includes new school construction. Upgrades for the existing campuses would be put on hold and would be completed as the district is able.
Community members have mixed feelings on the statewide initiative, as some believe it is a “money pit,” according to the Sacramento Bee, while others feel if the updates are needed, the district should provide them.

If the $9 billion proposed initiative passes, $3 billion would go toward new K-12 school construction and an additional $3 billion would support modernizing existing K-12 campuses. The initiative would also provide $2 billion to community colleges, $500 million to career technical education facilities and $500 million to local private schools.

Elk Grove Unified has determined there is a need for an additional 10 elementary schools and one new high school in the next decade, according to Pierce’s statement at the February board meeting. The total cost of these schools would be approximately $634 million.
 

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BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers of Patchogue, N.Y. has been selected as the project architect; interior designer; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineer; civil engineer; and site and athletic field designer for the construction program. The firm boasts an already strong foothold in the area, having been awarded $275 million in voter-approved school construction bonds in the last two years. The firm also designed the state’s first LEED certified public school, Hampton Bays Middle School in Hampton Bays, N.Y., which received both LEED Silver and Green Ribbon School designation in 2012.

"The upcoming renovations will result in increased energy efficiency and significant savings for our district," said Dr. Lorna R. Lewis, Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD superintendent of schools, in a statement. "The construction work will bring our schools, the majority of which were built in the 1950s and 1960s, to modern standards that will accommodate current educational programs and provide healthy and attractive learning environments for our students."

“The construction program will include building envelope renovations that aim at improving energy efficiency, classroom and other interior renovations, safety and security upgrades, new technology systems, renovations of outdoor sports facilities, and infrastructure and building systems upgrades,” added BBS Principal Architect Roger Smith, AIA, LEED AP, in a statement. “Energy efficiency improvements will result in annual savings of approximately $239,000 for the school district.”

The need to reduce the district’s energy costs, and desire to upgrade safety and security were the primary factors that led to the development of the improvement program. The district’s buildings currently feature original, outdated single-pane windows, which are highly energy inefficient. Annual savings obtained through specific energy use-related upgrades will include approximately $110,000 from new LED lighting fixtures, $60,000 from new temperature control systems, $59,000 from new double pane, insulated glazing windows and $9,600 from a 50-kW rooftop solar array.

Additionally, all educational buildings will receive comprehensive security upgrades, including interior and exterior cameras, expanded interior and exterior lighting, motion detectors and a variety of lock-down related technology. Safety improvements will also include fire alarm upgrades.

“Work will begin in the summer of 2015, once the school year is over, and is expected to be completed in 2018,” said BBS Senior Associate and Director of Engineering & Technology Frederick Seeba, P.E., LEED AP, in a statement. “The majority of work, such as the replacement of all windows, masonry repairs, and other building envelope improvements, must be completed during warm weather. There will be no interruptions to educational activities as each phase of the construction program will be completed during a summer break.”

Construction will take place at the district’s seven schools located in Long Island communities of Plainview and Old Bethpage. These include John F. Kennedy High School, Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School, Howard B. Mattlin Middle School, K-Center/Stratford Road Elementary School, Parkway Elementary School, Pasadena Elementary School, and Old Bethpage Elementary School. Two other buildings owned by the district, Jamaica Avenue and Fern Place, will also receive some renovations.

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