Construction endeavors at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) campus sites will be examined during the district’s Board of Education meeting March 20.
The board is recommended to approve three construction-related matters relating to Measure SMS projects, two at Santa Monica High School (Samohi) and one on the campus of Santa Monica Alternative School House (SMASH) and John Muir Elementary School. Passed in November 2018 with 72% support from local voters, Measure SMS approved a $485 million general obligation bond, anticipated for primary use in implementing the Samohi campus plan.
As of this month, over $225 million has been committed to Samohi, with another $26 million anticipated at the school. Other SMMUSD campuses have had just over $164 million committed thus far, with another $80 million anticipated. The combined total and future commitments across the district are equal to a shade over $495 million, with an SMS report stating the plans are currently $10.82 million over the budget. However, the report states that anticipated state funding will help aid the remainder of the planned projects.
“If there are no further unanticipated cost impacts, no additional projects, and no additional scope added to any of the current projects, it is not anticipated that significant additional funding will be required to complete the Measure SMS projects currently planned and underway,” reporting to the board states.
The board will hear about the current SMS budget as well as the three projects, starting with the water intrusion repair project on the SMASH/John Muir campus. It is recommended that the board approve of a Lease-Leaseback Agreement contract amendment with Blach Construction Company for the project, with a total contract value of just over $37 million. Blach was initially awarded a contract on March 2, 2023, followed by five separate amendments to the contract, which district staff notes “were crucial for progressing without delay” and addressing early-stage requirements mandated by the Division of the State Architect.
SMASH/John Muir campus was closed in fall of 2022 due to issues involving mold and interior drywall, with the project remedying these issues anticipated to be completed by August 2025. The latest amendment includes necessary seismic retrofitting, water remediation and reconstruction efforts for campus buildings A, B, C and D.
The board will also hear an amendment to the contract with McCarthy Building Companies regarding the Samohi Exploration Building and Gym project, with the latest amendment proposing an increase of $6.98 million for an additional 80 working days. The added scope of work has several major tasks involved, such as the complete demolition and removal of the South Gym and the construction of a retaining wall, access stairs and ramp between the gym and athletic fields.
Demolition of the South Gym is intended to commence on the first day of summer recess, with all demolition anticipated to be completed before school resumes for the 2024-25 fall semester. The initial contract for the project was awarded to McCarthy in August 2020, and the latest amendment will not extend the anticipated completion date for the Gold Gym and Exploration buildings, slated to be completed in June and July, respectively.
Another Samohi project the board is recommended to approve is an assignment to CY Architects to provide architectural and engineering design services in an interim repairs and upgrades project. CY Architects, which has worked extensively on SMMUSD campus projects over the past eight years, will have several near-term endeavors tasked, such as complete design and approval of the Barnum Hall lobby window replacement project, designing a storm drainage project to mitigate potential flooding into Barnum Hall, and the design for new bleachers for the Samohi track.