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Title : Capacity Issues and Funding/Building
link : Capacity Issues and Funding/Building
Capacity Issues and Funding/Building
I had planned to write just one thread about this issue but there are two looming items so each will get its own post.First up, Lincoln.
Most of you know that one of my special interests is Capital building. I think the district and the voters of Seattle have made a serious commitment to schools here in funding levies and bonds for new and updated buildings. (Many districts in our state envy this commitment.)
But the district first had a two-fold problem which has now become more complex with the numbers of new students coming every year.
First, the district is operating buildings that are far older than 50 years. The district doesn't even build to a 50 year standard anymore; now it's more like 25-30 years. And, because so many buildings are old, the district can't get to all of them fast enough so they have to pour money into older buildings that really should be modernized.
I bet if I added up how much money has been poured into very small buildings like Montlake and McGilvra, eyes would pop. But the district has to keep them running because they can't renovate fast enough. As well, the costs to rebuild very small schools would probably be an issue to some. (This is nothing against those schools; they are just an example.)
Second, the district, for their reasons, started pulling back on basic maintenance in the late '70s. Any homeowners out there? Raise your hand if you know what happens when you don't keep up on basic maintenance? That's right - it just gets worse. So that's been years of pennywise and pound foolish.
I think the cuts to basic maintenance were just probably the easiest to make. But now the district has about 100 buildings - old and new - to keep up with and so not even the buildings that voters paid $100M for are getting the maintenance they need.
And BTA covers the big maintenance but that's really not enough.
But on Lincoln - here's the e-mail I sent to the Board and senior management based on a BAR in the agenda for this week's School Board meeting:
Dear Directors,
As there are so many public ed issues to cover, I missed the Intro of the item for the modernization of Lincoln High School. I have no doubt you will vote for this but I want to point out some issues that I sought clarification on from reading the BAR for Action at Wednesday's Board meeting. Some I believe I have figured out; one I'm not sure of.
I do want to point out that I am completely in favor of modernizing Lincoln. My concern comes from the lack of transparency about funds being expended on different projects. This has been an on-going concern of mine for a very long time.
One, the action item says that this modernization will cost about $101M (see page 2 of the BAR)
This project is budgeted at $93,316,928. Funding will also be provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Funding of $8,295,926 will also be provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Just to remind you, Garfield cost about $110M and Roosevelt about $96M. So that's right up there with them.
However, the Ed Spec document, dated May 26, 2017 that is attached to the BAR ,says this on page 8:
Project Budget: The project construction budget of $56,749,750 limits the amount work able to be completed at Lincoln. Through multiple discussions with the City of Seattle, it has been determined that the school is considered a campus and the extent of the work required by code at the west buildings can differ from the east buildings. Based on this information, the district’s direction on the project’s scope is to focus on the modernization of the west buildings to meet capacity needs.
I find this confusing because of those differing numbers in the same BAR and also because the document indicates that only the West buildings (which are landmarked which means more expense to work on) are going to see most of this modernization.
The current scope of the Lincoln High School Modernization focuses primarily on the remodel and modernization of the west buildings, which are approximately 178,580 SF. The east buildings, which are approximately 70,852 SF, will receive minor finish, envelope, mechanical, and fire alarm upgrades.
Two, it also states this:
The east gym and performing arts buildings, built in 1958, are not part of the designated landmark. Over the years, the campus has been remodeled many times to accommodate the different needs of the site’s tenants and the district.
Again, I'm confused. Over $100M dollars and yet one important part of the campus - the performing arts buildings/gym - will only get minor upgrades?
Third, I went thru the BEX IV and BTA IV voter information. From BEX IV, there is just a modest $19.2M. I recall thinking at the time that was not much.
In BTA IV, however, there is a lot. It's hard to get complete clarity on the numbers because items that Lincoln appears under also include other schools. So for my purposes, I just divided it evenly between Lincoln and the number of schools for each item.
It includes things like earthquake safety, fire suppression, fire alarms, electrical, HVAC, roof, plumbing, etc. By my count, it's about $56M in BTA funds, give or take $1M.
So if you add $65M from BTA plus $19.2 M from BEX IV, you get about $75M. So where's that other $25M coming from? As the BAR says, OSPI is putting in about $8.3M. But still, where's the rest coming from?
That would appear to come from this (which was on the Levies Information - Winter 2016 brochure)
* The total Buildings amount includes $82 million for cost escalation, staffing, and other program-related costs over the six-year life of the levy.
I don't know what staff calls this fund but $82M for all those items? I don't think that's possible. I think that's the staff's own "when we need it" fund.
Again, I think Lincoln deserves this but then again, I think Rainier Beach does as well. I'm sure that Equity lens that staff says it used for Lincoln will be used again on BEX V for RBHS. And before any downtown high school, right? Because if there is a stepchild high school in this district, it's Beach.
What I ask is that a complete accounting of exactly where the funding is coming from for this project. Because you owe that to the taxpayers who voted it in.
end of e-mail
thus Article Capacity Issues and Funding/Building
that is all articles Capacity Issues and Funding/Building This time, hopefully can provide benefits to all of you. Okay, see you in another article posting.
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