Because construction costs are rising faster than expected, the School District is speeding up the rate at which it will be spending the second and third portions of the $106 million schools improvement bond.
That means the much anticipated Science Building and District-wide air conditioning on all campuses will happen much sooner than scheduled, like having a healthy baby several months early.
In plainer language, by Mike Reynolds, assistant superintendent for business, when February dawns, the District will gain access two portions worth $26.5 million apiece, or $53 million,
Originally, the plan was to reach for the second installment next October, eight months later. The third portion was not going to be spent until October 2020.
A stream of further money soon will be flowing from Sacramento. “The state passed a $9 billion bond measure for California school facilities,” Mr. Reynolds said. “Once they start handing out that money, everybody is going to be busy.”
Whether acknowledged or not, the state of the economy must have improved.
“More and more contractors are beibg selective about what projects they want to bid on,” Mr. Reynolds said.
“We want to get rolling before we get too much behind the curve regarding the escalation of construction costs.”
