The Board Approves Agreement with Balfour Beatty to Manage School Construction Program

SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. (December 20, 2016) – The South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) School Board voted to approve a construction delivery methodology and the international infrastructure company, Balfour Beatty, as construction manager for its bond program – Measure SP. The Board selected the company after the District completed interviews, reference checks, site visits, and a financial review and discussed the results at length during the public board meeting on December 13, 2016. The Board also heard a follow-up presentation and participated in a question and answer session with District legal counsel and representatives from the construction firm before voting to approve the selection of Balfour Beatty at its bond workshop held on December 17, 2016.

“Balfour Beatty has a proven, 30-plus year reputation of building award-winning K-12 schools throughout Southern California,” said SPUSD Superintendent Geoff Yantz. “Consistently ranked among the top K-12 education builders in California and across the nation, Balfour Beatty is known for maintaining long-term, trusted relationships with districts including Tustin, Redondo Beach and Santa Ana Unified. With Balfour Beatty’s history of safety and care for the environment and the communities where they work, we feel confident that the various projects will be implemented with transparency, integrity, timeliness, teamwork, excellence and respect for all stakeholders.”

Voters passed the school bond program—Measure SP—in November by a three-to-one margin. Measure SP provides funds for campus improvements at all five of SPUSD’s schools. Individual projects will be authorized and negotiated separately and require additional Board approval.

Funds raised from Measure SP will be used to complete critical safety updates and renovations, replace heating and cooling systems, build new classrooms in place of portables, create dedicated and improved space for art and science education, and preserve and modernize historic auditoriums along with other renovations that support 21st century learning.

Project construction may begin as early as fall of 2017.

About South Pasadena Unified School District

Established in 1886, the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) serves approximately 4,800 students within five schools including three elementary schools, one middle school and one comprehensive high school in South Pasadena, California. Nestled in the West San Gabriel Valley, SPUSD has earned a reputation for providing high quality public education, attracting families who value challenging academic programs and outstanding teachers. Consistently recognized for superior performance, SPUSD students earn honors at the local, state and national level. The District draws vital support from parents and community members through the South Pasadena Educational Foundation, local PTAs and booster clubs.

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For more information, contact: South Pasadena Unified School District, Office of the Superintendent, [email protected]