San Diego school officials say they aren't wasting any time getting started with Proposition S . That’ the $2.1 billion school bond measure approved by voters this week. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
District officials say they are organized and ready. They already have a
500-page report
detailing all the necessary work, and they have four timelines for the projects.
They're also assembling an administrative group to oversee the effort. In fact they're holding interviews for the bond's program manager this week.
Bill Kowba is chief logistics officer for San Diego Unified. He says the district learned lessons from Prop. MM, a bond measure approved about a decade ago.
Kowba:
We (district officials) did have to tread water while determining what the organization would look like. The second thing is that we did not have a phase-in plan. I think another thing is that we didn't have a detailed project list like we have today.
Kowba says projects that protect the health and safety of students come first. That includes things like ramps for students with disabilities and working restrooms.
Career technical programs are also at the top.
He says they have to spread taxpayer's money wisely across the district.
Kowba:
We simply can't spend two billion dollars in one year, two years or three years. So what you have to do is phase it across the 10 years. But you can't be on one campus, trying to do it all at the same time.
Kowba says they're also forming an independent oversight committee for the bond.
San Diego Unified
was one of the first districts to voluntarily form this kind of panel eight years ago under Prop. MM. Now the state requires those committees.
The district's plan must be approved by the school board before the projects go out to bid. Kowba expects to spend roughly $180 million in the first year of Prop. S.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
