As Measure S bond projects continue to move along, attendees of this Thursday’s school board meeting can get a greater understanding of which projects have been completed, which ones are nearing completion and which projects will be taken on next. The discussion will be presented by Bond Director Roxanne Egan.

Measure S was a ballot initiative approved by Benicia voters in 2014 aimed at providing $49.6 million in bond funding for improvements at each of the Benicia Unified School District’s seven schools. As of Dec. 31, 11 projects had been completed, technology infrastructure upgrades at all the schools, playground modernizations at the elementary schools, fixing the roofs at Benicia Middle School and Mary Farmar Elementary School, painting the exteriors at Benicia High School and renovating Benicia High’s stadium.

Egan also identified 10 approved bond projects in progress. These include fire alarm replacements at Liberty High School and the District Office as well as Mary Farmar, Joe Henderson and Robert Semple elementary schools, a fire alarm upgrade at Matthew Turner Elementary School, a modernization of Benicia Middle School’s campus, miscellaneous infrastructure upgrades, alternative education improvements and repairing the gym floor at Benicia High. Another approved project is improvements to Benicia High’s Performing Arts Building, which Egan said is part of the district’s efforts to apply for a Career Technical Education grant for the building. If the grant is awarded, then the district will be required to match up to a maximum of $3 million in local funding. If the grant is not awarded, then a minimum amount of $400,000 will be allocated for PAB improvements.

Egan’s report also noted three potential projects discussed at the Facilities Steering Committee meeting on Jan. 11 that may be considered by the school board. These consisted of modernization of Farmar’s campus, security upgrades and a new bathroom facility at Henderson. Egan also noted that $2.65 million remains in bond funding to be reviewed by the committee and school board.

“As a reminder, the district has applied to the state for State Facility Grant Funds through Proposition 51, and we hope to hear back from the state in the Fall 2018,” Egan wrote. “If awarded the State Prop 51 Facility Funds, then we must wait for the state to issue state bonds in order to get this funding. That could take another year or more.”

In other business, Chief Business Official Tim Rahill and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Khushwinder Gill will provide a report on enrollment and staffing projections for the 2018-19 school year, and Special Services Director Carolyn Patton will present site and district safety plans to be approved by the board. Superintendent Dr. Charles Young will also be highlighting Liberty High’s Art Club.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 in the Benicia Unified School District Board Room at the district building on 350 East K Street. There will be an earlier closed session at 5:30 p.m.

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