News Room

Pleasanton school trustees have hired a consultant to update the district's school facilities master plan.

By Ron McNicoll

Trustees voted 3-1 at their meeting Oct. 25 to spend $263,000 to hire LPA, Inc., which has offices in Roseville, Irvine, and San Diego.

Board president Valerie Arkin cast the vote in opposition. Trustee Jamie Hintzke was absent.

Steve Newsom, an associate in LPA's Roseville office, told the board that the firm will interview many people in the Pleasanton educational community, then present alternatives to the district concerning facilities design and finance sources.

The study was prompted by the city's need to update its general plan for residential development. The state is requiring Pleasanton identify where its fair share of regional housing could be accommodated. For the city, it means providing enough zoning to handle 3,000 more units.

The result of that 3,000-unit increase for the school district is a projected need for one, or possibly two, new elementary schools. At least one would be on the city's north side, where much of the future development would likely occur.

In addition to new construction, the consultant will look at current facilities, and assess their condition. The district has been neglecting all but necessary maintenance on schools for several years, because of the Sacramento budget pinch. That speaks to a need to upgrade buildings and turf.

Also, the impact of changing technology has altered classroom approaches to teaching. Facilities need to be updated to accommodate that fact, said Newsom.

Arkin voted against hiring the consultant now, but said that the study definitely is needed. With home construction in Pleasanton slowing to virtually nothing, the district has time to wait in hiring the consultant she argued.

By waiting four to six months, the district would know more about whether state budget cuts will come into play for this school year. The board might regret spending the money now, if it means the $263,000 could have prevented staff layoffs later this school year, said Arkin.

The wait would also provide the district a better picture of the ultimate disposition of how the city fares with the state over just how many units would be assigned to the city, said Arkin.

From the audience, speaker Julie Testa said hiring a consultant now is "extremely premature," and "seems like an irresponsible expenditure now." Testa said the money would be better spent on hiring teachers.

Taxpayers are paying for $27 million in debt on the facilities that were upgraded by Measures A and B. Despite that, the schools are 113 percent over capacity according to the district's own report, said Testa.

Testa said the city should approve a building moratorium because of the school overcrowding.

Trustee Chris Grant said that the district's liaison committee with the city has raised the issue of crowded schools. "We want schools that are the right size. We have communicated our concern on it," he said.

Consultant IPA will also provide contingency plans in case the city changes assumptions on development in the future, said Grant.

Further, the plan will aim to improve energy efficiency at existing campuses and any new ones, said Grant. There may also be information about how to extend the life of current buildings.

On the issue of spending $263,000 at this time, assistant superintendent Luz Cázares said the district received $197,000 from the state that had not been budgeted. Arkin said that's true. However, the cost is still $263,000, and the $197,000 could be spent for something else at this time.

Grant said, "I hate to spend money, but you can spend money today to save money tomorrow."

Trustee Jeff Bowser said, "It's embarrassing" that the district has not updated its facilities plan since 1997.

Trustee Joan Laursen added, "We will see changes. We have to plan for those. If we don't plan, we will have (a much higher number) at elementary schools. I guarantee the same people who are concerned about spending $263,000 will be back here asking, ‘Why didn't you plan ahead?'"

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