More study needed for district modernization

Reorganizing priorities for bond money to meet growing enrollment needs and a loss in funds will mean more studying for Burlingame school officials.

With more students and less money, the district is now exploring both short- and long-term fixes — including the possibility of repurchasing the now-vacant Hoover Elementary School. Discussion of a purchase has been an issue splitting the board. With the estimated cost of building a new district office and six classrooms on an existing school site comparable to purchasing and renovating Hoover, the board decided to continue studying a potential purchase. In addition, the district is looking into building new classrooms on Lincoln and McKinley elementary schools while scaling back other projects.

Last year, voters in the Burlingame Elementary School District approved a $48.3 million bond measure to improve school facilities. About $1 million of those funds were lost due to the San Mateo County Investment fund holdings in the Lehman Brothers. In addition, Burlingame is expected to have 300 more students — about the enrollment of Roosevelt Elementary — in the next three to five years. These factors led the board to begin reorganizing bond priorities last night to meet the district’s changing needs.

If the district were to purchase the old Hoover Elementary School side, 2220 Summit Drive, there are a number of alternatives for using the property as a new district office. It could simply be a district office. Or, it could be a district office with space leased to an education-related organization or with space used for a small school.

Building a new district office and six classrooms on an existing school site would cost an estimated $7.4 million, said Richard Terrones, vice president of Dreiling Terrones Architecture Inc. which is overseeing the construction projects.

Purchasing Hoover and converting it only into a district office would cost an estimated $7.1 million. Buying and renovating the building for the district office, and possibly tenants, would cost an estimated $7.8 million.

Those six classrooms could hypothetically house programs that are currently renting space at other school sites opening space on those campuses without taking away open space.

Of the bond money, $2.7 million is earmarked for a district office. The sale of the district office is estimated to create $2.1 million in revenue. If the board decided to build on a current site, there is a $2.6 million difference. If the board decided to buy Hoover and renovate rooms to be rented, there is a $3 million difference.

Terrones pointed out the board should consider there is also the age of Hoover, which was originally built in the ’30s compared to a new building. The board will hold a closed session meeting to continue talks about a potential purchase.

Given the need for more space at Lincoln Elementary and the potential growth of the immersion program at McKinley Elementary, board Vice President Greg Land suggested continuing to study building new classrooms on those campuses. Doing so would also allow the district to potentially replace portables with permanent classrooms. Trustee Marc Freidman was particularly in favor of this option since it would increase the longevity of the buildings.

Trustee Mark Intrieri worried adding buildings to those locations might not solve the growing enrollment problems. Reassessing school boundaries could be a solution if that was the case.

Enrollment projects concluded the district growing from 2,500 to 2,800 peaking in about five years. This estimated growth coupled with a shift in funds will result in a new plan for using the bond measure.

In September, the San Mateo County Investment fund lost 4.77 percent of the $2.6 billion portfolio principal due to its holdings in Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. Of those losses, Burlingame’s estimated hit is $1.225 million — with $1 million coming from capital funds and $225,000 from the general fund. Most of the capital fund money from the investment of Measure A funds.

To make up the loss, the board made a list of projects it sees as a priority without looking an potential cost. Classroom modernization was of high priority. Before fleshing out the funds, the board will hold a study session on Dec. 16 to decide what each classroom should have. Dreiling Terrones Architecture Inc. will then come back with estimates.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.