Palm Springs USD

Dear Residents of the Palm Springs Unified School District:

In 2008, residents passed Measure E, a $516 million bond measure to build additional schools and renovate existing schools and support facilities. These bond funds will be spent on capital improvement projects and cannot be spent on teacher or administrator salaries, textbooks, or other operation costs.

One of the requirements of Proposition 39, the legislative authority of Measure E, is to assemble a Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Our oversight committee was formed prior to the launch of any projects and has remained in place as projects are undertaken. The committee meets three times per year and all meetings are open to the public.

The committee’s primary function is to review all expenditures of the bond funds to ensure they are being spent as specified in the ballot measure. In addition, the committee is regularly updated on the status of projects and often tours construction sites to review the progress of projects.

To ensure that bond funds are being spent appropriately, one of the goals of the committee is to improve communication with the residents of our district. We believe it is critical that the community understands how their tax dollars are being spent as well as assuring residents that the funds are being spent appropriately. Please feel free to attend one of our upcoming meetings. If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact any of the committee members or phone the School District at (760) 883-2710.

Mark Abercrombie - Business Community Representative

Richard Clapp - At-Large Member

Justin Decker- Parent/Guardian of a PSUSD Student and Active in PTO/PTA/PTG/Site Council

Scott Fenton - Parent/Guardian of a Student in PSUSD

Helene Kalfuss - At-Large Member

Linda Scudder - Senior Citizen Organization Representative

Vacant - Taxpayer Organization Representative

Our committee is comprised of seven members representing various constituencies within the District. The committee must contain one member from each of five different groups (business community, a parent or guardian of a child enrolled within the District, a parent or guardian of a child enrolled within the District and also active in their school’s PTO, PTA, or school site council, senior citizen organization, and a taxpayer organization) as well as two at-large members. Members may serve no more than two consecutive two year terms.

The COC meets 3 times per year. The purposes of the committee are:

· To actively monitor all projects and expenditures approved by the voters.

· To provide proper oversight and accountability to ensure that bond funds are used as they were intended.

· To report to members of the community on the progress bond projects.

Information regarding the Citizens’ Oversight Committee can be found on the PSUSD web site, including: meeting agendas, minutes and reports from past meetings. In addition, meeting dates and times are posted here as well as committee vacancies as they occur. We encourage community members to fill out an Application for Membership during the recruitment of vacant seats.

Website: psusd.us

Palm Springs High School Seismic Building Renovations

Palm Springs High School Seismic project includes drainage upgrades, a new mini gym and massive building and seismic structural upgrades to existing buildings built prior to 1975. The PSHS library and cafeteria built in the 1940’s and identified as potential class 1 historic buildings, and the gymnasium opened in 1975 has structural upgrades required to bring it to current code. The concrete walkways inside the building campus have been removed and twelve feet wide storm drainpipes installed, then the concrete walkways were re-poured. In addition to the gym structural upgrades, the gym has a new entrance lobby with bathrooms and a lobby area for concessions and a ticket booth. The renovation included a new gym floor, bleachers, court dividers, sound system, roof and fire sprinklers and scoreboards. A new kitchen and dining area were constructed to allow for improved access by students. New heating and cooling control systems were installed to facilitate better temperature, ventilation and co2 controls for each classroom. A 15-ton HVAC unit was installed at the dining and kitchen area. The HVAC unit size was not sufficient for the kitchen area cooling needs and is being replaced with a 23-ton unit in February 2023. Upon replacement of the HVAC equipment, the project is ready for close-out.

Classroom 900 & 901 Upgrades at Palm Springs High School

PSHS Classrooms 900 and 901 were used for the last 20 years by PSHS JROTC program. The rooms were used for meeting rooms and as secured storage for equipment and uniforms. As the JROTC program is no longer offered at PSHS, it was time to renovate and upgrade these classrooms to the current district standards. New lighting, ceiling panels, data, electrical. carpeting and ViewSonic will be added to these classrooms.

New Modernization Projects

In June 2020, the Board of Education approved the first phase of modernization and renovation projects which include Della Lindley, Bubbling Wells, Landau and Sunny Sands elementary schools and James Workman Middle and Cathedral City High schools.

The Della Lindley Elementary School modernization will upgrade existing classrooms, administration, kitchen, library, and multipurpose rooms. The 2-story portables will have new fire alarms and public address systems installed. Construction plans have been submitted to the Division of State Architect (DSA) for approval. Upon receipt of DSA approval, the project will bid out and temporary classrooms will be put in place to allow the students to function on campus during the construction work.

At the January 2021 Facilities Study Session, the Board of Education approved the replacement of metal modular and portable classroom buildings on the Sunny Sands and Landau elementary campuses. The existing multi-purpose room is scheduled to be upgraded. The architects submitted the design plans to the Division of State Architect for review and approval in December 2022.

The James Workman Middle School modernization will upgrade existing classrooms, administration, kitchen, library, and multi-purpose room. The twenty portable classrooms will be replaced with new constructed classrooms. The architects submitted the design plans to the Division of State Architect for review and approval in December 2022.

The Cathedral City High School modernization will upgrade existing classrooms, administration, kitchen, library, and auxiliary buildings. The scope of work is exceptionally large for the high school and was divided into two increments. The first increment includes the central plant replacement, revisions to underground utilities, replacement of classroom lighting and air handles and roofing replacement where new HVAC is required. Increment one plans have been submitted to the Division of State Architect for review and approval.

The Bubbling Wells Elementary modernization is in the initial investigative and preliminary analysis stage. Design scope will begin in Spring of 2023.

Facilities Master Plan

The 2019 Facilities Master Plan is a long-term blueprint for meeting the changing facility needs of the district. Developed with input from the community, parents, and school and district staff, the plan contains a needs assessment for every school in the district. The plan also contains recommendations on school reconfiguration and rehabilitation to align facilities best with future curriculum needs with the axiom of “Instruction Drives Construction.” Projects are prioritized with the highest priority going to safety and security of campuses and buildings, creating engaging learning environments to support and advance teaching and learning environments, and renovate and replace aging infrastructure. The Facilities Master Plan has been updated to include the new grade level of transitional kindergarten. The State of California desires all four-year olds to have access to all day school by 2025.

District-wide Prop 39 Lighting Projects

The California Energy Commission through Proposition 39 has granted PSUSD approximately $5 million dollars over a 5-year period to replace inefficient air conditioning units and light fixtures. To maximize energy savings, the district added bond funds to each project to ensure all fixtures and units at each of the schools can be replaced. The final project to use these funds is Palm Springs High Schools Blackbox theater. The theater lighting and control consoles were installed when the building was constructed in 1980. All the lighting and control consoles are being replaced with new LED lighting equipment producing better light quality and energy savings.

Nellie Coffman Middle Locker-room upgrades

The locker-rooms at Nellie Coffman Middle school were built in 1978 and needed to be renovated for current physical education needs. New plumbing, toilets, showers, and tile will be installed. The lockers and shower areas are being redesigned to allow for an indoor class size area in each locker room. The indoor class area can be used to take roll or teach on inclement weather days. A ViewSonic will be installed on the back wall of each locker room to allow for instruction of health and other related topics.

Elementary School #17

PSUSD owns land in western Desert Hot Springs, near interstate 62, north of Pierson Road. Plans will start for this school when enrollment near the school property is sufficient to require construction of a new elementary school.

Palm Desert K - 8 School

PSUSD owns land in eastside of Gateway and south of 35th Avenue in the City of Palm Desert. Plans will start for this school when enrollment near the school property is sufficient to require construction of a new K – 8 school.

Other

Measure E Bond funds pay for bond issuance costs, arbitrage fees and when authorized, other non-construction costs.

Central Plant Replacement at the Richards Center

Parking lot improvements at Rio Vista Elementary School and Cathedral City Elementary School

Elementary Shade Canopies

Parking lot improvements at Della Lindley Elementary School

Desert Hot Springs High School HVAC addition at locker rooms

Agua Caliente Elementary School renovation

Nellie Coffman Middle School central plant upgrades

District-wide heating and air conditioning replacements at Desert Hot Springs High School and Cielo Vista Charter School

Palm Springs High School field restroom building

Parking lot improvements at Two Bunch Palms Elementary School and Katherine Finchy Elementary School

Cathedral City High School solar and re-roof project

District-wide heating and air conditioning replacements at Palm Springs High School, James Workman Middle School, and Mount San Jacinto High School

Raymond Cree Middle School portable replacement project

District-wide swimming pool project

Roof replacements at Rancho Mirage Elementary School, Raymond Cree Middle School and James Workman Middle School

District-wide fire and intrusion alarm upgrades

Palm Springs High School auditorium renovation-seismic upgrades

Raymond Cree Middle School restroom and locker room renovations

District-wide voice over internet protocol (VOIP) installation

Rancho Mirage High School exterior restroom building

Bubbling Wells Elementary School parking lot revisions

Palm Springs High School field house and concession building

Raymond Cree Middle School chiller and cooling tower replacement project

Edward Wenzlaff Education Center renovation

Bella Vista Elementary School

District-wide playground upgrades

Rancho Mirage High School

Palm Springs High School new band room

Cabot Yerxa Elementary School

Painted Hills Middle School

Cathedral City High School stadium snack bar, restrooms and girls varsity softball dugouts

New District Service Center

Nellie Coffman Middle School 100 wing renovation

Nellie Coffman Middle School seismic retrofit

In Compliance with the requirements of Proposition 39, PSUSD engaged the CPA firm of Eide Bailly to perform an independent audit of the financial records of the bond program. A copy of the auditors’ report for the year ending June 30, 2022 is located on the Palm Springs Unified School District website—Fiscal Services Financial Documents section.

In accordance with Education Code Section 15280(b), the auditors reported the following results of their procedures:

1. The general obligation bond fund expenditures were accounted for separately in the Building Fund of the District.

2. The net proceeds from the sale of the general obligation bonds were deposited into the appropriate accounts within the Building Fund.

The review of the expenditures for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 did not reveal any items that were paid from the general obligation bond funds that did not comply with the purpose of the Bonds that were approved by the registered voters of the District on February 5, 2008.

The auditors also noted “there were no findings or recommendations reported.”

In its review of the documents for the year ending June 30, 2022, the Committee has made the following findings:

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If you have any questions regarding this publication, please contact Kristina Murphy - Senior Administrative Assistant, Business Services

Email: kmurphy4@psusd.us
Website: psusd.us
Location: 150 District Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA, USA
Phone: 760.883.2710