December 4, 2015
Kindergarten through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016
Now that the State School Bond has qualified for the November 2016 General Election ballot, we have begun organizing the campaign to pass the State School Bond and provide $7 billion in state matching funds for K-12 facility projects and $2 billion for community college facility projects.
Thank you to all of the school districts and county offices of education that have passed the school board resolutions supporting the 2016 State School Bond. We hope every school district and county office will pass the resolution. A sample resolution can be found on the C.A.S.H. website at cashfacilitiesnews.org.
For more information or to contribute, please visit www.cashissuesstateschoolbond.com.
We look forward to your continuing support to pass the State School Bond on November 7, 2016.
Water and Drought Response
DSA Irrigation Efficiency Regulations
The Building Standards Commission (BSC) will soon take action on a proposal to make permanent the emergency irrigation efficiency regulations developed by the Division of the State Architect (DSA). The emergency regulations were adopted by the BSC on July 21, 2015, and a 45-day public comment period took place from September 25, 2015 to November 9, 2015 to accept feedback on making the regulations permanent. Subsequent to this comment period, DSA submitted changes to the proposal, which are the subject of a 15-day public comment period from November 23, 2015 through December 8, 2015.
The proposed changes align with the recent revisions to the Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) adopted by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), which went into effect on December 1, 2015. They also provide more regulatory rather than informative language. Based on the feedback of C.A.S.H. and other stakeholders, the specific changes are included:
- The threshold of applicability has been raised from a 1,000 square foot building footprint to 1,600 square feet. This change is primarily in recognition of the larger single-classroom spaces needed to accommodate students with special needs, with the intention of allowing the addition of one classroom without requiring additional landscape work.
- An exception has been granted for a building or addition that is constructed on an existing irrigated landscape or turf lawn that is not currently in compliance with MWELO requirements. This exception gives credit for the landscape area that is displaced by the construction.
DSA has indicated that they plan to issue an Interpretation of Regulations (IR) to provide additional detail on flexibility provisions and other program details, and that the self-certification review process will begin January 1, 2016. The BSC will likely take up the revised regulations for adoption at a meeting in early 2016.
State Water Reduction Goals
On November 13, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown issued a new executive order regarding drought response. The new order will extend statewide water reduction goals through October 31, 2016, if drought conditions persist through January 2016. These goals require an average 25 percent reduction in consumption statewide. Governor Brown has directed the State Water Board to consider modifications, based on insights gained from the existing restrictions and to address uses of potable and non-potable water. Since the regulations took effect June 1, water consumption statewide has fallen by approximately 28 percent through the end of September.
Proposition 39 Funding Allocations Now Available
The California Department of Education has posted the Proposition 39 Local Education Agency (LEA) funding entitlements for 2015-16, which can be found at the following link:
www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r14/prop39cceja15result.asp.
For 2015-16, a total of $313.4 million is available for K-12 grants. 85 percent of the funds allocated are based on P-2 average daily attendance for the prior year, and 15 percent are allocated based on the students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. The program includes the following minimum funding amounts: $15,000 for ADA of 100 or less, $50,000 for ADA greater than 100 but less than 1,000, $100,000 for ADA greater than 1,000 but less than 2,000.
Air Resources Board: Proceeds from Cap-and-Trade Auction
The Air Resources Board (ARB) is currently developing their Second Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds Second Investment Plan: Fiscal Years 2016-17 through 2018-19, which will establish priorities for expenditure of the proceeds from the ARB’s cap-and-trade auction. The program focuses on three primary areas: Transportation and Sustainable Communities, Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency, and Natural Resources and Waste Diversion. Currently, discussions have not included funding or programs for schools, which C.A.S.H. believes is a missed opportunity because schools are natural partners in all three of the focus areas. C.A.S.H. is working with other educational and green schools groups to advocate for inclusion of funding for schools and/or an expansion of eligibility for existing programs to allow schools to participate, and has submitted a comment letter to urge inclusion of schools.
Regulating Pesticides at Schools in Agricultural Areas
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) works closely with California’s County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) to minimize the drift of agricultural pesticide near schools. CACs are the primary local enforcement agents for pesticide laws and regulations. DPR is currently developing a regulatory scheme to provide more guidance to both schools and CACs, and it is anticipated that their proposal will be available for public review in the middle of 2016. C.A.S.H. will work with DPR to ensure that schools are represented in the discussion.
C.A.S.H. Maintenance Management Certification Program Application Deadline Approaching
The next cohort of the C.A.S.H. Maintenance Management Certification Program (CMMCP) begins in April 2016. Applications are due December 18, 2015. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this rigorous academy, designed to develop current and potential maintenance staff into experts in the maintenance arena. This program is only offered by C.A.S.H. every other year and space is limited. Please see the attached brochure and application for more information
If you have any questions, please contact C.A.S.H. staff member Melissa O’Campo at or (916) 448-8577.
C.A.S.H. 37th Annual Conference
Registration is now open for the C.A.S.H. 37th Annual Conference, being held February 22-24, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento and Sacramento Convention Center. Join the more than 1,000 school facilities professionals that will convene in Sacramento for education, innovation and networking opportunities. Highlights of the Conference will include: the NextGen Experience, a hands-on simulated learning space where attendees gather to discover the latest advancements in classroom design right on the trade show floor, and the Networking Dinner, held Tuesday evening following the close of the trade show.
Hotel reservations are now also being accepted. For more information or to register, please visit the C.A.S.H. website, www.cashnet.org/meetings/2016_Annual_Conference/2016AnnualConference.htm or call the C.A.S.H. office at (916) 448-8577.
Show your support! Become an Annual Conference sponsor and exhibitor today! Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the premier school facilities conference. Trade show spaces are selling quickly. To secure your sponsorship and booth space, contact Laurie Eaton, or call (916) 448-8577.
Save the Dates! C.A.S.H. Happy Hour/Networking Mixers
Join your fellow school facility professionals for happy hour/networking mixers! Make sure to save these dates:
– January 14, 2016 – Los Angeles
– January 28, 2016 – Sierra Foothills
– February 11, 2016 – Inland Empire
For more information, contact Mike Vail at (949) 498-8993.
~ C.A.S.H. Staff