HomeSchools & YouthSuperintendent Lays Out District’s Facility Needs at School Board Meeting

Superintendent Lays Out District’s Facility Needs at School Board Meeting

Cherniss, Site Principals Say Extensive Building, Retrofit Needed to Ensure Optimum Learning Environment for SMUSD Students

DR. ALEX CHERNISS
DR. ALEX CHERNISS

The San Marino Unified School District Board of Education was presented on Tuesday, Jan. 12 with a detailed needs assessment of all four sites that suggested broad renovations that were left untouched in a bond project that was approved by voters in 2000.

The board took the first step on Jan. 12 by authorizing Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss to circulate a request for proposal for the purpose of retaining a polling company to explore the community’s potential support for a new bond issue to fund such a program.

“We are a first-class district with first-class programs in second-rate facilities,” said Cherniss, as he navigated a large crowd at the district office through a multi-media presentation on the project. “We are going to rebuild the district. There are new ways that children learn. We need to create facilities to match that.”

Cherniss said the project would not affect any of the facilities that were built or renovated during the district’s $70 million construction effort in 1996-2000.

With the assistance of all four principals, the superintendent detailed key components of the project at each site.

San Marino High School 

*Replace and reconfigure the 300-400 wing on the west side of the campus and connect with the administration and Math/Science buildings. Estimate: $25 million

“This wing was constructed in 1960,” Cherniss said. “It also allows us to provide better security via a single point of entry as well as more parking.”

*East wing/Performing Arts Center. Estimate: $25-35 million

Here, Cherniss showed photographs of state-of-the-art auditoriums at Monrovia and Arcadia High Schools.

“I encourage you to look at these two structures,” said Cherniss. “Ours was built in 1953.” He then provided a laundry list of upgrades that would be needed if the structures were overhauled.

*New Swimming Pool 

A new swimming pool, auditorium on SMHS wish list.
A new swimming pool, auditorium on SMHS wish list.

Estimate: $7 million

“Our pool is programmed from 7 am until 10 at night,” Cherniss said. “It is by far our most over-scheduled facility.” Plans call for a new swimming pool to be placed on the site of the outdoor basketball courts, just north of the gymnasium. The current pool is intended to remain in service. “Even with two, both will be used,” Cherniss said. “In many cases, some of our citizens rely on swimming or aquatherapy as a main source of exercise. Building another pool would provide another opportunity for more of our citizens to benefit.”

San Marino water polo Coach Robert Zirovich told The Tribune in September that scheduling conflicts did not allow for the three teams in his program to receive adequate practice time.

*Sixth tennis court/air condition of gymnasiums. Estimate: $2.5 million

“Anyone who has ever been in the gym, especially at the beginning of the school year, knows how hot it can get,” Cherniss said. No argument was received.

“I want to see the quality of our student body matched by the quality of our facilities,” said San Marino High School Principal Mary Johnson. “Our performing arts facility is neither flexible nor adequate. We can’t fit the entire student body into the facility and we have to rent equipment to put on a concert or show. We even have go to churches or other facilities to put on some of our music and choral programs.”

Huntington Middle School

Barth Athletic Center. Estimate: $14 million 

The Barth Athletic Center is already on the district’s drawing board.
The Barth Athletic Center is already on the district’s drawing board.

New two-story complex athletic including a fitness center and media classrooms.

This specific project has already been in the design phase and approximately $4 million of this amount has already been raised from community members.

“I am very excited about this project,” said Principal Jason Kurtenbach. “Let’s be honest, we don’t even have a gymnasium, we have a large multi-purpose building. “We can’t have physical education class when it is wet or hot.”

A new track and athletic field complex is also being considered for an estimated additional $1.5 million.

Carver Elementary School

Replace two portable classrooms with three permanent classrooms. Estimate: $5 million 

Carver would like to swap out two portables with three classrooms.
Carver would like to swap out two portables with three classrooms.

New lunch shelter. Estimate: $1.5 million

New shade structures. Estimate: $500,000

Outdoor sport court upgrade and expansion. Estimate: $500,000

“We spent a lot of money upgrading some of the systems at Carver on the first bond and recently finished a driveway project,” said Cherniss.

Carver Principal Liz Hollingsworth explained the deteriorating condition of her school’s lunch court and shade structures, pointing out that most of the building was constructed in 1953.

“It predates even me at Carver,” she exclaimed, drawing a roar of laughter from the assemblage.

Cherniss and Hollingsworth also alluded to the possibility of adjacent land on the west side of Carver that would allow for further expansion. No figures were given for that idea.

Valentine Elementary School

Replace 7 portables with two-story classroom facility. Estimate: $10-15 million 

Valentine Elementary School would replace seven portables.
Valentine Elementary School would replace seven portables.

New multi-purpose room, auditorium, lunch shelter and kitchen. Estimate: $10-15 million

New HVAC and lighting. Estimate: $3.5 million

“We want our kids to host a play in a theater and we want our kids to be able to enjoy a hot lunch on campus,” Cherniss said.

“These projects would be very important for our campus,” said Valentine Principal Colleen Shields. She also mentioned loud noise that is generated by the current air conditioning system and how it had to be turned off so that a childrens’ performance could be heard.

“These facilities that we presented to the board and the community are not over and above what we need and deserve as a district,” Cherniss said Wednesday morning. “We are talking about classrooms that are modernized that provide an optimal learning environment. There are no frills. This is what our children need and deserve and we hope the community will support this project.”

School Board president Nam Jack agreed.

“The best district in the state should have the best facilities in the state,” she said. “If you think about it, those buildings were built sixty years ago. I was struck by how long it has been.”

Jack also praised Cherniss for his “exhaustive review.”

“We must maintain flexibility in the classroom,” said Boardmember Chris Norgaard. “We should also make sure we explore every potential source of local revenue. We need to cast a wide net.”

Boardmember Joseph Chang encouraged Cherniss to assure that technology needs are thoroughly assessed.

Cherniss intends to issue the RFP for a polling consultant immediately, conduct interviews next week and hopes to have a contract with a polling consultant by Monday, Jan. 26.

Potential Sources of Funding

There are three primary sources of potential cash to fund the modernization project: (1) contributions from the community, along the lines of the $4 million raised to date for the Barth Athletic Center at Huntington Middle School; (2) a local bond issue and (3) the possibility of matching funds from the State of California.

During his presentation, Cherniss referenced a $9 billion State Facilities Bond that is scheduled to go before California’s voters on the November ballot that would provide matching funds for projects in the design phase at the time of passage. The superintendent also mentioned another $2.5 billion school facilities project that has been proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The SMUSD intends to complete the required paperwork to apply for matching funds, but the district’s receipt of such matching funds would be conditioned upon the passage of these state funding measures as well as satisfaction of other criteria.

In regards to issuing a local bond, the SMUSD currently has a bonding capacity of $123 million. The last bond, approved by voters in 2000, costs residents $71.14 per $100,000 of assessed value each year and will be paid off in 2025. If approved by voters, a new bond would extend for 25 years at a roughly equivalent annual amount per $100,000 of assessed value.

Issuance of a new bond would require a 55% vote from the community.

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