Surplus pays for school renovations

Mark R. Madler

The Burbank Unified School District dipped into its $1.3-million

project surplus fund to pay for additional work at John Burroughs

High School.

The work, to be completed before school resumes in September, is

not part of the $48.7-million renovation project started at the

school in 2001.

The school board Thursday night approved awarding a $567,200

contract and a $289,000 contract without any discussion.

The additional work resulted from meetings between district staff

and parents and staff at Burroughs in January, Supt. Gregory Bowman

said.

The work to be done includes improving the auditorium; repairing

and refinishing the Hurst gym floor; installing a new scoreboard,

public-address system and portable bleachers in the gym; repairing

and replacing walls in the faculty parking lot; and relocating

woodworking equipment for safety reasons.

A $112.5-million bond issue approved by voters in 1997 funds the

renovation project. Work at four elementary schools is complete, and

John Muir Middle School renovations are almost finished.

From those completed projects, the district has pooled a

$1.3-million surplus due to work costing less than anticipated, said

Steve Bradley, assistant superintendent for business services.

The summer work at Burroughs will be the first time the district

has tapped the surplus.

Bottenfield Construction, of Santa Clarita, and Bernard Bros.

Construction, of Burbank, were awarded the contracts.