Measure J funded projects ‘tackling huge needs’ despite delays

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Sept. 26, 2024) — Measure J has finally started to come to fruition nearly six years after more than 70 percent of Mt. Diablo Unified School District voters approved the bond measure in November 2018.

While long overdue results are present at various school sites throughout the district, the improvements have not come without some consternation being expressed by teachers and staff as the new school year has gotten underway.

Hearing all of it and keeping a brave face is Melanie Koslow, MDUSD’s Executive Director of Maintenance, Operations and Facilities, who has been charged with shepherding the $150 million in bond funds through the challenging labyrinth that is accompanying the planning and execution of a multi-phase list of projects.

Last month, Koslow, noting that 60 to 65 percent of work had been done despite labor and manufacturing delays, presented the MDUSD board with a window into what has been completed and is in progress, and an equally long list of what was yet to be done with Measure J funds.

“Really, we are learning what we did wrong and what we could have done better,” she said of information they are gathering, “so we are more successful in Phase II.”

Koslov noted project work has shifted to an evening schedule on all fronts to keep progress going and avoid disruptions on campuses to the school day.

MDUSD has so far sold $95 million out of $150 million in Measure J Bonds, according to District spokesperson Theresa Brandt.

A pair of quarterly reports for the first half of 2024 showed $46,025,087.33 (March 31) and $52,176,249.09 (June 30), respectively had been paid for work done on the Measure J projects related to the district wide building automation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). During those two periods, Schneider Electric received the lion’s share of Measure J funds, $49,428,671. The balance owed on Schneider’s contract with the district is $15,768,804.

In October 2021, the school board carried out a review and potential award for its Request for Qualification for the district wide HVAC project to which Schneider Electric submitted information to do the work. The following February, public hearings were held, and two months later a review and potential approval of Schneider Electric for the design build contract to do design services was in place.

In May 2022, a construction amendment to the existing contract with Schneider went before the school board for approval. In March 2023, construction amendment revisions for the existing Design-Build Agreement with Schneider was reviewed by the school board for potential approval.

Schneider’s selection prompted the Measure J Bond Oversight Committee to file a complaint with the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury.

“It (the complaint) has had no impact to schedules or delays to any Measure J Projects,” said Citizens Oversight Committee Chair Gina Haynes, including work being done by Schneider Electric.

“Despite our concerns with the Schneider contract (for LED lighting and HVAC), the District is full speed ahead and has no care or concern that the contracts likely never met the savings guarantee required of an energy savings contract and should have been through a competitive bid process,” she continued.

Even with the tight window being faced the past several months [while school was out for summer vacation], Koslow said “we really tackled some huge needs.

“Summer gets shorter and shorter, but the needs don’t go away. [We wanted to] show our community that this wasn’t just throwing some paint on the walls, that sort of thing,” she continued.

To that end, Superintendent Adam Clark lauded Koslow for “a herculean effort” that she and her team have put forth thus far. “There has not been a lot of construction done in the district for a long time,” he said.

But for all the progress that has been accomplished, Koslow, in that same Aug. 14 meeting, heard still more complaints and concerns being voiced, ranging from cigarette butts being found in the classrooms, despite the district’s ever present no smoking policy, as well as the discovery of wires and screws, to issues with fire alarms not operational at school sites, and fewer restrooms for staff because of the work that is being carried out.

Koslow made it clear the complaints and concerns voiced are being heard and she is proactively addressing them all in daily and weekly conversations with contractors to ensure swift improvements and changes occur.

Her mid-August presentation detailed the completed Phase 1 modernization work at three elementary schools– Mt. Diablo, Meadow Homes and Rio Vista–which included new flooring, ceiling, lighting, wall finishes; new classroom furniture; ADA accessibility upgrades where needed and HVAC unit replacement.

Work continues at those sites with technology infrastructure upgrades; exterior door replacements; HVAC controls completions; window coverings; casework and sinks; main office completion (at Mt. Diablo and Rio Vista) and punch/touch up work.

Along with HVAC controls and maintenance HVAC replacement projects taking place district wide, Koslow noted the continuing technology infrastructure upgrades also are earmarked in Phase II. Those upgrades are slated for the Dent Center, Willow Creek, Central Services, Loma Vista and Northgate High School. Silverwood Elementary is nearing completion and Wren Avenue Elementary is in the design stage.

Other forthcoming construction projects include Phase II elementary modernization going through the advertisement and bid process this fall and winter, with Phase I construction slated for Spring-Summer 2025.

Kitchen and MU modernization also is on tap at El Dorado Middle School with construction planned this fall and winter, Central Services camera and lighting upgrades also slated for the remainder of 2024, and this fall Mt. Diablo High synthetic track and field replacement is projected to happen.

But for all the projects outlined, there were board members seeking still more such as redoing the baseball field at MDHS, to which Koslow diplomatically said the resources aren’t there to do any more than maintenance at this time.

There are aspirations for improvements to the athletic and visual and performing arts facilities in the district, but Koslow said “we don’t have long terms plans without additional funds.”