Orestimba High School and Bonita Elementary could see possible renovations soon following discussions held during a Newman-Crows Landing Unified School's (NCLUSD) board workshop meeting on Feb. 21.

The meeting focused on prioritizing projects as part of the district’s facilities master plan, which focuses on NCLUSD’s anticipated short and long-term facilities needs and priorities. The plan is also based on assessing the conditions of existing facilities, projected future enrollment numbers and facilities aligned with the district’s vision of instructional programs.

The funding for the various projects comes from Measure X, which provided the district $25.82 million in bonds towards improvements across NCLUSD. According to the State Treasurer’s Office 2020 local and general election results, nearly 60% of voters supported the measure.

The district, however, has not received the full bond funding. In an email to the Westside Connect, NCLUSD’s Fiscal Analyst Casandra Figueroa stated that the cost/fees of issuance decreased the initial amount of the bond to an estimated $25 million.

However, the meeting’s PowerPoint presentation showed that NCLUSD has only received $19.9 million from bonds alone. $14.9 million are from 2022 Anticipation Notes Bonds and $5 million is from a 2024 General Obligation Bond—Series A. 

Out of the $19.9 million, $19.6 million was used toward completed projects within the district. $9.3 million went toward renovations to Orestimba’s Pool and Tennis Courts, $8.54 million was allocated to working on Von Renner Elementary’s multipurpose room and transitional kindergarten classrooms and $1.7 million was used to improve the restrooms at Hunt Elementary School.

“We can do a project if it was under $300,000 right now because we have the money on hand,” said NCLUSD Justin Pruett. “The timing is important. If we did it all at one time, the cost of the voters would just be too much.”

During the meeting, board members went towards a poster that focused on the various projects that the district could prioritize with their remaining funding. Those projects included Orestimba receiving an all-weather track and changes to the wrestling facility/stadium restrooms.

Following a vote count, phase two of the Von Renner project was considered the biggest priority for the board. The second phase focused on getting rid of eight portable classrooms and replacing them with restrooms, relocating a climbing wall, replacing Asphalt and potentially tearing down a warehouse space. The project’s first phase focused on building a new cafeteria and office building, which was completed in October 2024.

However, due to the costs and size of the project’s second phase, discussions shifted towards allocating the remaining funds towards a SOD project at Orestimba’s football stadium and new LED lights at Bonita.

NCLUSD Board of Education President Don Cabral said the reason why both projects were considered a priority was due to the impact they can have on students within the district. 

“When you think about the student athletes that use our facilities to incorporate all different sports and activities between football, girls flag football, boys and girls soccer, flag football, not to include all the PE classes, facility for the football field … and then all the youth programs that use our facilities as well,” Cabral said. “You’re looking at over 1,000 student athletes or kids that use those fields at minimum.”

The SOD project revolves around the demolition and installation of a new sod field including all infrastructure and irrigation work. The project is estimated to cost $200,000, with a three-month timeline to complete.

The Bonita Light Lighting Upgrade project focuses on increasing energy efficiency at the school with its Return on Investments being six and a half years. The upgrade will cost $71,538.

In addition to the $5.1 million that the district will later receive, NCLUSD will also have $57 million in funding from two bond measures (Measure T and Measure S).

Measure T issues $27 million in bonds to the district. The measure was overwhelmingly supported by voters, as 61.39% of the 4,724 total vote count voted in favor of the measure, according to the 2024 Stanislaus County Election Results.

Bonds from this measure will be used toward repairing and replacing leaky roofs, restoring outdated outdoor physical education facilities, replacing deteriorating classrooms and providing outdoor shade structures, according to the meeting’s Powerpoint presentation.

Similarly, Measure S, which issues NCLUSD $30 million in bonds, was supported by 59.42% of its 4,726 vote count to go through.

The meeting’s PowerPoint presentation mentioned that the bonds from the measure will be used towards creating additional special education classrooms, reducing overcrowding by adding and expanding classrooms, renovating existing classrooms and facilities and providing more facilities for mental health services and student counseling.

“We don’t have the $5.1 [million] yet, and we want to wait for some other bonds to be paid off so it doesn’t keep increasing the cost to the voters,” Pruett said.

Pruett mentioned further discussions about the two projects will be at a March 10th board meeting. There will be job postings for contractors who can learn about a specific project and submit a bid to work on it. A special board meeting will be held on March 12 to finalize the bid.

Navtej Hundal is a freelance journalist in Stanislaus County.