Cost of school repairs may top $150 million

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- As the possibility of a school bond looms larger, the

cost of repairing the district’s crumbling campuses continues to rise.

Mike Fine, assistant superintendent of business services, said he expects

the final tally will be $25 to $30 million higher than the original

$127-million estimate.

“I’m not shocked,” said board member Jim Ferryman. “It could be a lot

higher. We’re trying to stick to the meat and potatoes.”

Since the price estimate was announced in June, district officials and

committee members have repeatedly amended the facilities master plan,

which outlines needs for the district’s crumbling schools.

At first, the plan did not include seismic improvements to schools or the

possibility of making air conditioning standard for each classroom, Fine

said.

And they’re not done yet.

“As they take a few things out, the number will go down,” Fine said. “As

they add a few, it will go up. Remember, the community and the board may

not take these [recommendations].”

The committee has also instructed Fine to increase the “soft cost” --

expenses included in the project, such as architect fees, permit costs,

project management, soils testing and other contingencies -- by 11%,

bringing it from 19% to 30%. These costs are all set by industry

standards, Fine said.

During the coming days and weeks, as officials wait for a final, firm

price, they also will be figuring how much money they can get from the

state.

In 1998, passage of Senate Bill 50 established a facilities program that

lowered the minimum age of schools seeking to modernize from 30 to 25

years, which put Newport-Mesa back in the eligibility ring. Then voters

approved the statewide $9.2-billion school bond.

With the new requirements in place, Newport-Mesa was finally in line for

a piece of the pie.

But it still had one hurdle left: the restriction placed on the district

following the Orange County bankruptcy, barring it from receiving any

state money for five years.

That hurdle was removed in October when Gov. Gray Davis signed Senate

Bill 1039, which allows Orange County districts, specifically

Newport-Mesa, to apply for funds.

“We’re fortunate we had that legislation pass that will allow us to do

that,” Ferryman said.

What the district must determine now is how much money it can get from

the state. Although the bond includes matching funds -- 80% from the

state and 20% local money -- the formula is based on a dollar amount per

student, not on need. That formula puts most of the burden back on local

funding, Fine said.