Board Meeting Highlights: October 25, 2023 (Regular)
See the Meeting Agenda for a full listing of items considered and actions taken at this meeting.
7.1 Superintendent Report
Superintendent CJ Cammack reported that Fremont Unified celebrated Mr. Paul Barry last week as he marked 50 years teaching in our district; he is our longest-serving current educator. This week Superintendent Cammack visited Warm Springs and Leitch, and was at last week’s Kennedy Titans football game. He thanked everyone who attended or streamed last week’s school funding presentations. He reminded the community to visit fremontunified.org/jointheconversation to add feedback on our priorities moving forward.
14.1 Azevada Elementary School Showcase
Principal Carole Diamond and staff presented the Azevada School Showcase to highlight the school's accomplishments, areas of focus, unique characteristics, student perspective, and parent/guardian and community perspective.
16.3 Approve New Course Proposals for Middle School and High School
Secondary schools annually submit requests for new courses of study to be added to the course catalog. The courses being brought forward will meet the needs of the following sites: Thornton Middle School, American High School, Irvington High School, Kennedy High School, Mission San Jose High School, Robertson High School, Washington High School and Vista Alternative. The courses have been approved by all necessary parties.
Secondary Education will ensure that all schools within FUSD are aware that they may offer these courses going forward.
The following new courses will be offered as listed:
- History and Study of Film: Thornton Middle School
- Introduction to Ethnic Studies: All High Schools
- Modern Poetry: American High School
- PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing: American High School
- Art and the Human Figure, Beginning to Advanced: Irvington High School
- Competitive Dance: Irvington High School
- Painting: Irvington High School
- Chemistry 101A and Chemistry 101B: Mission San Jose High School
- Agriscience: Vista Alternative
- Astronomy: Vista Alternative
- Biotechnology: Vista Alternative
- Career Discovery: Vista Alternative
- Culinary Arts: Vista Alternative
- Earth and Space Science: Vista Alternative
- Financial Mathematics: Vista Alternative
- Foundations of Green Energy: Vista Alternative
- Marine Science: Vista Alternative
- Philosophy: Vista Alternative
- Workplace and Internship Readiness: Vista Alternative
- World Geography: Vista Alternative
The Board unanimously approved the new courses as listed.
16.4 Facilities Measure E and Other Funding Financial Update
Associate Superintendent Daniel Hillman presented the Facilities Program Financial Update.
On June 3, 2014, the voters of Fremont approved the $650 million Measure E general obligation bond initiative. The scope of the bond work includes upgrading and repairing neighborhood schools by updating technology and aging classrooms; upgrading electrical wiring to current safety codes; fixing or replacing leaky roofs, aging plumbing and restrooms; removing asbestos; and repairing, constructing and acquiring equipment, classrooms, sites, and facilities.
The last comprehensive Measure E Implementation Plan and financial update was approved by the Board on December 10, 2019, where the Board approved budgets for all remaining Measure E projects including Group 1, 2, and 3, in accordance to Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) recommended Option #2.
Since 2019, there have been increases to several project budgets including, but not limited to: Thornton, Centerville, Hopkins, and Horner MS Conversion Projects and Kennedy HS Modernization. The presentation today reflects those changes, provides a comprehensive overview of Measure E financials, as well as delineates other funding sources available for facility improvements.
This was an informational item and no action was taken.
16.5 Approve the Scope and Budgets for Measure E Bond Program Group 1 Elementary School Modernization Projects
On June 3, 2014, the voters of Fremont approved the $650 million Measure E general obligation bond initiative.
On December 10, 2019 the Board approved the updated budget allocation and authorized staff to proceed with the Group 1 projects. On May 11, 2022, the Board received a presentation of Measure E Group 1 projects, approved the Group 1 projects scope, and directed staff to proceed with the design development and construction document design phases. On October 11, 2023, the Board received a presentation of Measure E Group 1 projects with revised, proposed final scopes and estimated budgets.
District staff and RGM Kramer provided a presentation on the status of the Measure E Bond Program Group 1 elementary school projects to discuss final project scopes and revisions to the newly estimated budgets. Staff requests that the Board receive the presentation and provide approval to proceed with the scope and budget as indicated in the presentation. It is important for direction to be provided regarding the scope to ensure adequate time to receive Division of State Architect (DSA) plan approval, and for bidding projects in advance of Summer 2024 to ensure contractors are under contract promptly to ensure procurement of long lead items.
A net increase of $518,721 in project costs is currently estimated for the Group 1 projects. If approved, the increase needed for these schools will come from the Measure E Program Contingency. Staff project the contingency balance will be approximately $15 million.
By a 4-1 vote, the Board approved the revised scope and budgets for the Measure E Bond Program Group 1 Elementary School Modernization projects.
16.6 Approve Priority 1A Scope and Budget for Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium Modernizations Project
On March 22, 2023, the Board approved the project scope and budget of $1,000,000 for the Turf Replacement Project at Tak Fudenna Stadium. On September 27, 2023, the Board authorized staff to file a Notice of Completion for the Turf Replacement Project, with a final cost of ~$1.2M.
District staff and RGM Kramer previously presented the various scope and budgets to finalize a complete Modernization project at Tak Fudenna Stadium. The total cost is estimated at $9,772,000, inclusive of the cost for the turf replacement project ($1.2 million), already completed. As a result, to fund all the scope in the three priorities outlined in the presentation, an additional $8,572,000 is estimated to be needed.
The item in highest need of attention is the track and field resurfacing. As part of completing this work, the Division of State Architect (DSA) will require accessibility and path of travel upgrades to be made at/to the track and field, making these upgrades inseparable from the track resurfacing. These two scopes are identified as Priority 1A scope in the updated presentation and the estimated project cost to complete this scope of $585,000.
Other scope items of lower priority are: scoreboard upgrade/replacements, stadium lighting replacement, erosion control, bleacher upgrades, and team room upgrade/replacements.
The Board unanimously approved the priority 1A scope and budget for the Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium Modernization Project in the amount of $585,000.
