Burbank Unified School District compiles bond wish list

As Burbank Unified gears up to spend the first of its $110-million bond, school officials have started prioritizing a to-do list of facility improvement projects.

During a school board meeting last week, officials approved issuing $41 million in bond money to begin tackling the greatest needs.

As part of the bond’s requirements, the district must plan to spend about 85% of the $41 million in a three-year period, and reveal an early projection of the money assigned to future projects.

While Burbank educators have not yet committed to any specific project, the preliminary outline shows they may spend $10 million on implementing technology at schools over the next three years.

“It’s really kind of an internal working document for planning purposes only,” said Christine Statton, assistant superintendent of administrative services.

The document assures compliance with tax rules attached to general obligation bonds, she added.

Deteriorating roofs at the top of Burbank Unified’s high-priority list could absorb $1.5 million in bond money. Repairs to asphalt at various campuses could cost $1.3 million.

Replacing and adding heating and air conditioning units could cost more than $3.7 million.

The district may also pursue a solar project and install lighting and energy retrofits at various school sites in the next three years.

Plans will become more solid in the coming months as discussions between school board members and district officials continue.

“We’re not committing to specific projects or schedules at this time,” Statton said.

Last week, officials committed to hiring architects for future design projects who have at least 10 years of experience in building schools in California.

Any firm hired by Burbank Unified will be located within 40 miles of the district and must have participated in the design of at least five school modernization or construction projects in at least 10 years.

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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.