District officials hope new school can still open in Agoura Hills





By Stephanie Bertholdo
Acorn Staff Writer

Despite news that the cost of the new Yerba Buena Elementary School will be nearly twice the original estimate, new funding sources and alternate approaches were explored at a special Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) Board of Education meeting on Tuesday.


Construction bids have been halted temporarily, although district officials have promised that no other project has priority over Yerba Buena.


Frustrated parents, teachers and administrators attended the meeting and heard explanations from LVUSD officials, architects and engineers about the unexpected costs. To date, the district has spent $11.2 million on the project, including $8.5 million for the parcel on Reyes Adobe Road. The cost to complete the project is now estimated at $22 million.


Initially, it was expected to cost about $12 million, based on a Bay Laurel-type school, according to LVUSD Deputy Superintendent Donald Zimring. Bay Laurel was built in 1991 at a cost of $100 per square foot (totaling $5 million). Costs have risen 10 percent per year each year since 1991, Zimring said. The project is now expected to hit $219 per square foot.


By October, the district discovered that the final cost of construction would hit $12 to $13 million, not including $7 million of extra work at the site of the campus.


In addition to inflation, other factors contributed to the sharp increase, but the biggest culprit was found during the "scope of work" phase.


The grading was far more difficult than expected, power lines had to be relocated and placed underground, a bridge and road had to be built, environmental factors led to higher costs and several governmental agencies were involved.


Alternate funding sources were discussed, including a possible bond issue, or getting more state aid that could be transferred from high school enrollment funds. But the transfer rate would be costly.


Six alternatives were outlined, including redesigning the project on its current site or looking for an alternative location. A redesign of both Yerba Buena and Lindero Canyon Middle School on their current site was also discussed. The two schools share the same campus.


Second stories could be added to both schools. Another option would be to construct a new middle school and expand Yerba Buena at the existing site. Downsizing the project to a K-3 campus and creating a fourth- through eighth-grade program at the middle school was also discussed.


Options, time delays, costs, board and parent reactions will be outlined next week.


District officials scheduled another meeting for 6-9 p.m. Wed., Feb. 11.



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