Las Virgenes Schools OK $85,000 in Projects

The first of many projects to be funded by Measure R, a bond passed by voters in November, was approved by the Las Virgenes Unified School District board this week.

The projects, totaling nearly $85,000, are among those that district schools said are most needed, according to Las Virgenes officials.

Although the district will not receive funds from the measure for another month, officials authorized schools to prioritize and proceed with small projects using money already in district coffers.

“We wanted the community, especially the parents who worked so hard on this, to know that we’re putting the money out there right away,” said Judy Jordan, a school board member.

The board at its meeting Tuesday approved $40,831 in proposals for projects initiated by individual schools, and $43,551 in purchase orders for projects initiated by the district office.

Donald Zimring, assistant superintendent for business, said the $85,000 is part of the first $450,000 that will be set aside for schools to use on top priority projects. Selection of the projects will be determined by principals and committees on individual campuses.

There are few restrictions on how the money can be used. School officials were told only to keep the costs under $15,000 and that projects could not be structural or require architects or engineering.

More costly districtwide repair projects will be planned by the Las Virgenes maintenance and operations office.

Many schools submitted proposals and some have even completed work on long-overdue maintenance put off during lean financial times.

The approved projects include the refurbishment of athletic fields and the replacement of the irrigation system at Agoura High School, improved courtyard lighting for safety at Willow Elementary School and new concrete walkways at Lindero Canyon Middle School.

Zimring said the board will consider project proposals each month until September for the first year of the $93.1-million bond, adding that the district hopes to continue setting aside funds each year to conduct more small projects.