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 understand 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.

You can find helpful information regarding the Citizens’ Oversight Committee on the PSUSD web site, including: 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 were built in the 1940’s and have been 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 12 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.

DHSHS HVAC Addition at Locker Rooms:

This project involves the addition of new heating and cooling systems on the Boys and Girls Locker Rooms. New heating and controls systems were installed through the school campus to facilitate better temperature, ventilation and co2 controls in each classroom. The project was completed in fall of 2021

Parking Lot Improvements at Della Lindley Elementary School

The renovations to the parking lot at Della Lindley work began in September 2020 due to the closure of in-person school due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The renovations include a safe path of travel for pedestrian and vehicles and enhance the flow of traffic for pick-ups and drop-offs of students. The bus lane has been relocated to the south side of the campus to provide more queueing space for vehicles and ten new parking spaces will be added. The work was completed April 2021.

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 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 be 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 will be upgraded. The plans are in design and will be submitted to DSA in the fall of 2022 for review and approval.

The James Workman Middle modernization will upgrade existing classrooms, administration, kitchen, library, and multi-purpose room. The 20 portable classrooms will be replaced with new constructed classrooms. The plan is in design and will be submitted to DSA in the fall of 2022.

The Cathedral City High modernization will upgrade existing classrooms, administration, kitchen, library, and auxiliary buildings. The plans are in design and will be submitted to DSA in the winter of 2023 for review and approval.

The Bubbling Wells Elementary modernization is in the initial investigative and preliminary analysis stage.

Central Plant Replacement at the Richards Center

The central plant which provides heating and cooling for the Richards Center is roughly 45 years old and will be replaced with a new energy efficient central plant. The project started in fall of 2021 and is scheduled for completion by May 2022. A temporary chiller has been installed to maintain use of the Richards Center during the construction.

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, renovate and replace aging infrastructure. The Facilities Master Plan will be updated in 2022 to include the new grade level of transitional kindergarten. The State of California desires all four-year old's to have access to all day school by 2025. This is the first time in the history of the State of California, a new grade level has been added.

Elementary Shade Canopies

As continued awareness of the importance of having our younger students stay physically active while making accommodations to the Coachella Valley desert’s environment, most healthy children can safely participate in outdoor sports and other physical activities through a wide range of challenging warm to hot climatic conditions. The 30 feet by 60 feet playfield metal shade structures are installed at each of the district’s 16 elementary schools. The project also includes the installation of 9 shades trees on each of the elementary playfields. The tree installation should be completed by the spring of 2022.

Parking Lot Improvements at Rio Vista and Cathedral City Elementary Schools

Revisions to the parking lots at Rio Vista and Cathedral City Elementary schools were needed to provide a safe and enhanced flow of traffic for pick-ups and drop-offs of students. The bus lane at Rio Vista Elementary was relocated to the west side of the campus to provide more queueing space for vehicles. Cathedral City Elementary had changes to the bus lane and additional parking spaces added. The parking lots at Rio Vista and Cathedral City Elementary schools were completed during the summer of 2020.

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

Bond issuance costs, arbitrage fees and other non-construction costs are paid from Measure E bond funds.

Agua Caliente Elementary Renovation

Nellie Coffman Central Plant Upgrades

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

Palm Springs High School Field Restroom building

Parking Lot Improvements at Two Bunch Palms and Katherine Finchy Elementary Schools

Cathedral City High School Solar and Re-roof Project

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

Raymond Cree Portable Replacement

District-wide Swimming Pool

Roof Replacements at Rancho Mirage Elementary, Raymond Cree and James Workman Middle Schools

District-wide Fire and Intrusion Alarm Upgrades

Palm Springs High Auditorium Renovation-Seismic Upgrades

Raymond Cree Restroom and Locker room Renovations

District-wide Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)

Rancho Mirage High School Exterior Restroom building

Bubbling Wells parking lot revisions

Palm Springs High Field House and Concession Building

Raymond Cree 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 New Band Room

Cabot Yerxa Elementary School

Painted Hills Middle School

Cathedral City High Stadium Snack Bar, Restrooms and Girls Varsity Softball Dugouts

New Service Center

Nellie Coffman Middle 100 Wing Renovation

Nellie Coffman Middle Seismic Retrofit

In Compliance with the requirements of Proposition 39, PSUSD engaged the CPA firm of EideBailly 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, 2021 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, 2020 to June 30, 2021 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, 2021, 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