As construction of the new Shores elementary school is well underway, the citizens’ bond oversight committee has been monitoring expenditures of the Measure C bond fund – the $25 million in monies approved (November 8, 2005) and funded solely by Shores taxpayers. This report is one of the ways the committee fulfills its primary responsibility to communicate regularly to Shores taxpayers and community.
On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the Measure C citizens’ bond oversight committee held its regular quarterly meeting to review fund expenditures for the period of July 1 through September 30, 2009, at the San Mateo County Office of Education in Redwood Shores.

The committee was at quorum and three of its seven members reported having reviewed the district’s accounts payable reports, invoices, contracts, and bimonthly reports of the independent inspector of record.
As of September 30, 2009, approximately $17.3 million (out of the revised budget of $24.9 million) have been expended or accrued to date. As of this report, there are several items of good news. First, the revised budget is approximately $926K below the original estimate of nearly $25.9 million. Second, there is about $460K remaining of unallocated bond monies. Third, during October, the district reviewed the contingencies embedded within the budget and further revised the remaining unallocated funds upwards to nearly $615K. Fourth, with a project “not-to-exceed” estimate from Blach Construction and Meehleis Modular of $798K
for two additional day care rooms, the school board voted to approve use of monies from the district’s General Fund to supplement the Measure C bond fund. As a result, the new school will be able to open with day care facilities and provide equity between the Shores schools.

Progress in construction continues at a good pace. The independent Inspectors of Record (in plant and on site) also continue to report “no issues.” Both the school and the day care facilities are projected to be “on schedule” for completion in February, 2010. Cherie Ho, principal of the new school, reported that grades K through 4 will open in August, 2010.

Activities for the bond oversight committee included: (1) a field visit and meeting with the on-site inspector and representatives of Blach Construction, Stafford King Weis Architects, and Meehleis Modular on Friday, December 4th: (2) review of the independent financial audit for FY’08-09 and performance audit for the period up to June 30, 2009 (by Patel and Associates, the district’s financial auditor) at the end of December; and, (3) review of Q2 bond fund expenditures and inspectors’ reports in January.

The next meeting of the bond oversight committee will be on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 6:30 pm at San Mateo County Office of Education (101 Twin Dolphin Drive).

Members of the public are encouraged and welcome to attend! If you are at least 18 years old and
interested in serving on theMeasure C bond oversight committee, please contact DianeMasetti at Belmont-Redwood Shores School District offices (650-637-4800, x1022) or email her at for an application form. Submit your application during December, 2009. In January, 2010, the Board of Trustees will re-appoint members for terms that begin February, 2010.

— Submitted by Carole Wong, Chairman
— Measure C Bond Oversight Committee