September Board Meeting Highlights

Posted Date: 9/13/24 (5:00 PM)

Board Meeting Highlights

September 2024

Facilities Development Update Presentation

District staff and Studio W Architects presented an update on the Sowers Construction project. Their report will cover progress on design, construction, and finances. They also updated the Board on the M&O Building and Bus Storage Facility projects.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Update Presentation

District staff, along with the project designer, presented an update on the installation of HVAC systems at four school sites. The presentation included a brief project history, current status, tentative construction schedule, funding update, and next steps. This marks a significant milestone in the District’s efforts to bring air conditioning to these sites, aligning with one of the Board's key priorities. The project is estimated at $13 million, covering both construction and soft costs. Based on the tentative timeline, the installation will be completed over two summers: Eader and Peterson in Summer 2025, and Smith and Dwyer in Summer 2026. The District will consider whether it is feasible to include Smith in the 2025 installation. Dwyer remains planned for 2026 due to long lead times for equipment specific to that school site. District staff successfully secured funding through state hardship funds, which were approved in June.

Resolution Recognizing October 2024 as Dyslexia Awareness Month

The resolution to recognize October 2024 as Dyslexia Awareness Month was approved, reaffirming the District’s commitment to raising awareness and fostering collaboration among staff, families, and the community. This recognition highlights the importance of identifying, treating, and preventing dyslexia to support student success. The District will distribute communication in October, continuing our tradition of promoting dyslexia awareness. The District will also begin implementing a universal screening process next school year. The California Department of Education’s expert panel is expected to identify approved screeners by early 2025, giving the District until June to adopt and prepare for implementation.

Resolution in Support of SB 1315 to Improve School District Reporting

The Board approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill (SB) 1315, which seeks to streamline the reporting requirements for California school districts. The bill calls for the California Department of Education to evaluate and reduce the number of state and federally-mandated reports that districts must submit.

Resolution in Support of California Proposition 2, Public Education Facilities Bond Measure

The Board approved a resolution supporting California Proposition 2, which focuses on funding public education facilities. This bond measure aims to improve and modernize school infrastructure. With the passage of Proposition 2, HBCSD could potentially receive $13 million in state matching funds for facility improvements.

Use of Facilities Fees - Fields Presentation

The Board of Trustees has approved an amended motion to increase the facility use fee schedule for outdoor fields by 5% beginning in January 2025. Any additional fee adjustments will be reviewed at a future meeting. The approval also includes a request for staff to present information on field conditions and potential improvements at a later Board meeting.

On May 7th, Facilitron provided an update on the District's facility use fees, which had not changed since 2011. On June 18th, the Board approved revised rates for indoor spaces. Over the summer, the Administrative Services team worked with user groups to establish appropriate rates for outdoor field use. Staff held in-person meetings with each field user group to address operational questions, understand their programs, and discuss potential field upgrades while minimizing disruptions. A key consideration was ensuring continued access to fields, and the transition from seasonal to hourly rates was reviewed. Major users like AYSO and HB Softball currently benefit from seasonal rates, and a proposed 5% annual increase was introduced to align the District’s rates with those of neighboring facilities.

The District is also implementing strategic field maintenance initiatives, including aeration, though the increased fees will only partially offset these costs. The new fee structure will take effect on January 1, 2025.

2023-2024 Unaudited Actuals Presentation

District staff presented an overview of the 2023-24 Unaudited Actuals. These figures represent the final financial outcomes, including revenues and expenditures, following the completion of fiscal year-end closing activities. These financial statements are referred to as "unaudited actuals" because they have not yet undergone review by external auditors. The presentation included information regarding District reserves, restricted funds, and community-funded status update.

Transition to Community Funded Status Infographic

Save the Dates

September 19, 2024 | Elementary School Back to School Night
September 26, 2024 | Middle School Back to School Night
October 8, 2024 | Regular Board Meeting

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