Thursday, July 28, 2016
NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified Helps Small, Local Business Participate In Its Construction Program (Plain text)
San Diego Unified Helps Small Local Business Participate In Its Construction Program
SAN DIEGO - San Diego Unified School District is committed to ensuring the small, disadvantaged and underutilized business have viable opportunities to participate in its construction program. To that end, the district recently hosted its 2016 Construction Expo at Kearny High School's Stanley Foster School of Engineering, Innovation and Design (formerly Construction Tech Academy). The annual event is part of the school district's comprehensive Business Outreach Program that reaches a broad spectrum of small and emerging businesses including: minority- and women-owned business enterprises, as well as disabled-veteran-owned business enterprises (DVBE).
Before the July 20 expo began, Superintendent Cindy Marten and Board of Education President Mike McQuary held a press conference to announce the latest numbers for the district's Business Outreach Program.
"During the first half of 2016, over 43 percent of all San Diego Unified construction contracts were awarded to local, small emerging business enterprises," Marten announced.
"That's $44.6 million to small and emerging business enterprises," McQuary noted. "Of that, minority-owned businesses were awarded 13 percent, totaling $13.4 million."
"In 2011, the board passed a resolution requiring 3 percent disabled veteran participation in all of our construction contracts," McQuary added. "This year over 6 percent of all work, totaling $6.4 million, was awarded to certified disabled veteran business enterprises."
Mike Bilodeau, chief executive officer and owner of IO Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. (IOEI), a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in San Diego, participated in the expo, and contracts with the district as a subcontractor and general contractor. Bilodeau credits the district's Business Outreach Program for helping save, and grow, his business when federal spending was curtailed in recent years. The district helped IOEI transition from federal contracting to local and regional contracting.
Of the expo, Bilodeau said, "It was one-stop shopping for a small business. All the 'big guys' (top general contractors) were there, both disabled veteran business groups, and most of the small business coordinators were there as well. And, breakfast and lunch is always welcome!"
"We definitely received special attention being a DVBE with the large contractors," Bilodeau added. "It's too early to tell yet if we will receive additional opportunities (from the expo)."
Bilodeau also met disabled veterans who attended the district's Construction Expo for the first time, i.e., an electrician and a concrete business owner.
"I've have already had my estimators reach out to them," Bilodeau said. "I also reconnected with the new president of Elite DVBE, and we talked about pursuing an existing opportunity together."
Bilodeau is committed to "passing it on" by giving other disabled veterans business opportunities. Since its beginning in 2006, IOEI has employed 18 veterans for a total of 40 years of employment. This is a result of the focus on utilizing the SDVOSB set-aside program to hire veterans, and team with other veteran-owned companies. IOEI also has a goal of maintaining at least a 40 percent veteran work force.
In addition to IOEI's veteran ownership, veterans take on such roles as project managers, quality control managers, scientists, geologists, contract managers, field samplers, storm water managers, construction workers, document specialists, technical writers and administrative support.
IOEI has also awarded over $3.2 million in work to 10 other veteran-owned businesses, and it continues to mentor these firms by sharing its contracting knowledge, resources, and contacts.
San Diego Unified's Business Outreach team coordinated and hosted the Construction Expo, which gave local small business owners an opportunity to meet and talk with district staff who oversee the design and construction of school facilities, and those who contract/procure products and services. Approximately 220 construction industry contractors attended the sixth annual expo that featured more than 50 exhibitors representing the school district, county agencies, professional organizations, local general contractors and consulting firms.
"Creating these opportunities not only benefit the business owners, they benefit our students and their families as well." Marten said. "Many of our contractors and subcontractors have children or grandchildren who attend our schools. Therefore, their work not only improves the quality of their neighborhood schools, but it also positively impacts their students' learning environment as well. In addition, their families benefit financially from our district's contracting opportunities."
Two workshops were added to last year's expo, and were so well received that the district held them again this year. The sessions were specifically tailored to enhance the experience of attendees. "I'm at the Expo, Now What," was designed to give a brief, but detailed, outline of the event, including hints on how to make the most out of your time at the expo. The "Prime Panel" was a panel of prime contractors that have worked on district projects. They shared their perspectives on what they are looking for in subcontractors for their team.
"Every year we try to improve the event by inviting only those exhibitors/partners relevant to district contracting, and bringing in staff pertinent to construction projects for the upcoming year," said Karen Linehan, manager of district's business outreach program. "We received feedback all day (at the expo) that it was the best year yet."
The district's Facilities Planning & Construction Division (FPC) and its Business Outreach team hosted the event. For more information on the district's business outreach efforts or how to do business with the district, contact Karen Linehan, business outreach manager, at 858-627-7232 or klinehand@sandi.net; or Alma Banuelos, small business coordinator, at 858-573-5852 or abanuelso@sandi.net.
Link to information on how to do business with San Diego Unified School District: https://www.sandiegounified.org/doing-business-san-diego-unified-school-district
Media contact: Cynthia Reed-Porter, facilities communications supervisor, Communications Office, 619-546-3378 or creed-porter@sandi.net
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NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified Helps Small, Local Business Participate In Its Construction Program
NEWS RELEASE from San Diego Unified School District, July 28, 2016
San Diego Unified Helps Small Local Business Participate In Its Construction Program
SAN DIEGO – San Diego Unified School District is committed to ensuring the small, disadvantaged and underutilized business have viable opportunities to participate in its construction program. To that end, the district recently hosted its 2016 Construction Expo at Kearny High School’s Stanley Foster School of Engineering, Innovation and Design (formerly Construction Tech Academy). The annual event is part of the school district’s comprehensive Business Outreach Program that reaches a broad spectrum of small and emerging businesses including: minority- and women-owned business enterprises, as well as disabled-veteran-owned business enterprises (DVBE).
Before the July 20 expo began, Superintendent Cindy Marten and Board of Education President Mike McQuary held a press conference to announce the latest numbers for the district’s Business Outreach Program.
“During the first half of 2016, over 43 percent of all San Diego Unified construction contracts were awarded to local, small emerging business enterprises,” Marten announced.
“That’s $44.6 million to small and emerging business enterprises,” McQuary noted. “Of that, minority-owned businesses were awarded 13 percent, totaling $13.4 million.”
“In 2011, the board passed a resolution requiring 3 percent disabled veteran participation in all of our construction contracts,” McQuary added. “This year over 6 percent of all work, totaling $6.4 million, was awarded to certified disabled veteran business enterprises.”
Mike Bilodeau, chief executive officer and owner of IO Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. (IOEI), a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in San Diego, participated in the expo, and contracts with the district as a subcontractor and general contractor. Bilodeau credits the district’s Business Outreach Program for helping save, and grow, his business when federal spending was curtailed in recent years. The district helped IOEI transition from federal contracting to local and regional contracting.
Of the expo, Bilodeau said, “It was one-stop shopping for a small business. All the ‘big guys’ (top general contractors) were there, both disabled veteran business groups, and most of the small business coordinators were there as well. And, breakfast and lunch is always welcome!”
“We definitely received special attention being a DVBE with the large contractors,” Bilodeau added. “It’s too early to tell yet if we will receive additional opportunities (from the expo).”
Bilodeau also met disabled veterans who attended the district’s Construction Expo for the first time, i.e., an electrician and a concrete business owner.
“I’ve have already had my estimators reach out to them,” Bilodeau said. “I also reconnected with the new president of Elite DVBE, and we talked about pursuing an existing opportunity together.”
Bilodeau is committed to “passing it on” by giving other disabled veterans business opportunities. Since its beginning in 2006, IOEI has employed 18 veterans for a total of 40 years of employment. This is a result of the focus on utilizing the SDVOSB set-aside program to hire veterans, and team with other veteran-owned companies. IOEI also has a goal of maintaining at least a 40 percent veteran work force.
In addition to IOEI’s veteran ownership, veterans take on such roles as project managers, quality control managers, scientists, geologists, contract managers, field samplers, storm water managers, construction workers, document specialists, technical writers and administrative support.
IOEI has also awarded over $3.2 million in work to 10 other veteran-owned businesses, and it continues to mentor these firms by sharing its contracting knowledge, resources, and contacts.
San Diego Unified’s Business Outreach team coordinated and hosted the Construction Expo, which gave local small business owners an opportunity to meet and talk with district staff who oversee the design and construction of school facilities, and those who contract/procure products and services. Approximately 220 construction industry contractors attended the sixth annual expo that featured more than 50 exhibitors representing the school district, county agencies, professional organizations, local general contractors and consulting firms.
“Creating these opportunities not only benefit the business owners, they benefit our students and their families as well.” Marten said. “Many of our contractors and subcontractors have children or grandchildren who attend our schools. Therefore, their work not only improves the quality of their neighborhood schools, but it also positively impacts their students’ learning environment as well. In addition, their families benefit financially from our district’s contracting opportunities.”
Two workshops were added to last year’s expo, and were so well received that the district held them again this year. The sessions were specifically tailored to enhance the experience of attendees. “I’m at the Expo, Now What,” was designed to give a brief, but detailed, outline of the event, including hints on how to make the most out of your time at the expo. The “Prime Panel” was a panel of prime contractors that have worked on district projects. They shared their perspectives on what they are looking for in subcontractors for their team.
“Every year we try to improve the event by inviting only those exhibitors/partners relevant to district contracting, and bringing in staff pertinent to construction projects for the upcoming year,” said Karen Linehan, manager of district’s business outreach program. “We received feedback all day (at the expo) that it was the best year yet.”
The district’s Facilities Planning & Construction Division (FPC) and its Business Outreach team hosted the event. For more information on the district’s business outreach efforts or how to do business with the district, contact Karen Linehan, business outreach manager, at 858-627-7232 or klinehand@sandi.net; or Alma Banuelos, small business coordinator, at 858-573-5852 or abanuelso@sandi.net.
Link to information on how to do business with San Diego Unified School District: https://www.sandiegounified.org/doing-business-san-diego-unified-school-district
Media contact: Cynthia Reed-Porter, facilities communications supervisor, Communications Office, 619-546-3378 or creed-porter@sandi.net
Cynthia Reed-Porter, communications supervisor l Communications Office l San Diego Unified School District
Mobile phone: 619-546-3378 l E-mail: creed-porter@sandi.net
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY: San Diego Unified Calls on CalPERS and CalSTRS to Divest from Fossil Fuels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JULY 27, 2016
SD Unified School District Calls on CalPERS and CalSTRS to Divest from Fossil Fuels
First school district in California to support divestment
San Diego, CA -- The San Diego Unified School District’s (SDUSD) Board of Education passed a resolution today calling on the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to divest their investment portfolios of stocks in fossil fuel companies. Recognizing the threat of global warming, the resolution also supports last year’s state legislation, SB 185, which requires PERS and STRS to divest from coal stocks. Most of SDUSD’s employees belong to these retirement systems.
Proponents believe San Diego Unified is the first school district in California to pass such a resolution, joining the California Federation of Teachers, the Unified Teachers of Los Angeles, and other organizations who have publicly called on CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from fossil fuel companies.
The resolution is a sign of growing momentum for fossil fuel divestment locally - only a couple of months ago the UC San Diego Academic Senate passed a similar resolution urging the UC Regents to divest the University of California’s investment portfolio of stocks in fossil fuel companies. The UC system also made the decision to divest from coal and tar sands in 2015. Earlier this month CalSTRS voted unanimously to move $2.5 billion in assets to a low-carbon index fund.
A report last year showed that PERS and STRS had lost $840M from coal stocks during the 2014-15 fiscal year, and $5.1B in fossil fuel stocks overall.
Board member Kevin Beiser, who co-authored the resolution, said “I am grateful that San Diego Unified has been a leader in sustainability. Climate science tells us that we must act now to prevent future disasters, and as teachers and staff who devote ourselves to improving the lives of students, we have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to protect them from the impacts of climate change.”
Joe Wainio, a fourth grade teacher at Horton Elementary school and a member of the board of directors of the teacher’s union San Diego Education Association* said he had concluded that divestment is the safer course financially, especially given the calculations of climate scientists (including UCSD scientists) demonstrating that fossil fuel assets cannot be burned if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided. He said “I support divestment because coal, oil and gas stock prices have been plummeting, and have already lost PERS and STRS millions - and these investments will decline even more as we transition to clean energy.”
Masada Disenhouse, a steering committee member of the grassroots climate action organization SanDiego350 applauded the vote, saying “Climate change is one of the most pressing issues for this generation of students and future ones, so I am grateful to the San Diego Unified School Board for standing by the students and their families, and calling for divestment. I hope the retirement systems act quickly to divest their holdings from fossil fuels.”
Prof. Eric Halgren, who led the recent Fossil Free UCSD effort to bring the recent Academic Senate resolution to a successful faculty vote in May, was encouraged. “We must build a global consensus behind becoming fossil free in the next 20 years if we want to avoid flooding major cities, massive famines, and mass extinctions. It was scientists at UCSD who discovered that fossil fuel burning is causing climate change and needs to end. This means that fossil fuel stocks are overpriced. I’m excited that the San Diego Unified School District is taking steps to protect its employees’ retirement investments and our children’s future.”
School Board member Richard Barrera said it was important for the board to show moral leadership. “There is a question of justice about divesting our retirement funds from fossil fuel companies: most greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have come from the wealthy people in the world, but the worst consequences -- such as hurricanes, droughts, fires, flooding, famine and disease -- will most severely impact the world’s poorest people. We have a moral duty to our fellow humans, as well as future generations, to act now while we still have a chance to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.”
Kevin Beiser added, “This divestment campaign is about helping people to realize that keeping carbon in the ground is both a moral imperative and makes good economic sense. I hope that CalPERS and CalSTRS take a leadership role in building the essential societal consensus for a fossil free future.”
* For identification purposes only, does not imply endorsement of organization.
Board of Education Contact: Board Vice President Richard Barrera and Board Trustee Kevin Beiser, 619.725.5550, board@sandi.net.
San Diego Unified Board Approved Resolution.
Other Contact: Masada Disenhouse, San Diego 350 Climate Change Action, 619.277.4594, masada@sandiego350.org.
# # #
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified’s Capital Bond Program Gets Perfect Score for Transparency: Latest in Series Of High Marks
June 19, 2016
San Diego Unified's Capital Bond Program Gets Perfect Score for Transparency: Latest In Series of High Marks
SAN DIEGO – It's confirmed, again. San Diego Unified School District is doing an outstanding job of managing and implementing its Propositions S & Z capital improvement bond program. The district received the latest of several independent, third-party evaluations giving its bond program high marks. San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation (SDTEF) recently announced that the district received a perfect score of 100 percent for transparency for its Props. S & Z bond program.
"Knowing that our district has one of the largest public works program in San Diego County, we take our responsibility and accountability very seriously," Board of Education President Mike McQuary said today. "To ensure transparency, we not only have annual audits; but we also have a board-appointed Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (ICOC) that monitors the expenditures of bond funds, and holds public meetings each month. In addition, the ICOC posts its meeting information and documents on its web pages for anyone to review."
The SDTEF released its scorecard and summary report, "School Bond Transparency In San Diego County," on June 14. In the report, the foundation scores all the county school districts on their website information for their bond oversight committees, the committees' 2015 annual reports, third-party audits and performance audits that meet SDCTA standards. San Diego Unified was one of only seven county school districts that received a perfect score.
"This report is intended to provide tools for San Diego County school districts to use in the ongoing process of improving transparency with respect to school facilities bond programs," according to the SDTEF. "While there are many criteria that go into making a school facilities bond program effective, the scope of this study focuses solely on transparency–the accessibility of information that makes it possible for taxpayers to assess the performance of school facility bond programs."
Founded in 1987, the SDTEF is the research arm of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. According to the taxpayers association, it releases the research "to bring attention to the issues that impact taxpayers and often informs the Taxpayers Association's advocacy efforts."
The perfect score from SDTEF is just the latest in high marks for San Diego Unified's capital improvement bond program. The district has also received excellent evaluations from independent, third-party auditors, and it's highest-ever ratings from bond-rating agencies.
HIGHEST-EVER BOND RATINGS
In advance of the district's recent bond refunding effort, the district's finance team and consultants pursued high investment grade ratings with the bond rating agencies. As a result, San Diego Unified School District received extremely favorable credit ratings for its 2016 general obligation bonds and green bonds totaling nearly $550 million. The ratings were either the highest or near-highest ratings available from the agencies, and the highest-ever for the district's general obligation bonds.
The district received "AAA" from Fitch Ratings, Inc., the highest issued by the agency. It also received a rating of "AA+" from Kroll Bond Rating Agency and "Aa2" from Moody's Investor Service, Inc. The Moody's rating is an upgrade from their prior rating of "Aa3," while the two others represent inaugural ratings for the district's credit. All three rating agencies also assigned a "stable" outlook to the district, a standard assignment that signals change is likely to their ratings over the next two years.
"Achieving such high investment grade ratings from the rating agencies helped generate confidence from a variety of buyers, which led to a lower cost of borrowing for the school district, and will ultimately save taxpayers millions of dollars over the life of our bond program," said Cindy Marten, superintendent of San Diego Unified School District.
SUCCESSFUL FINANCILA AND PERFORMANCE AUDITS
For the seventh consecutive year, the district's capital bond program has received the highest opinion auditors can offer for both its financial and performance audits. For the second consecutive year, the auditors had no adverse findings, a significant achievement for a bond program of this size and complexity.
"Our district has a proven track record for successfully managing its capital improvement bond programs," McQuary said. "Each year the district's bond program undergoes an independent performance audit and an independent financial audit, and each year the Props. S & Z bond programs have received high audit opinions."
In its financial audit of the 2014-15 fiscal year, Crowe Horwath found that the district's financial statements "present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Propositions S and Z Bonds Building Funds as of June 30, 2015, and the respective changes in financial position for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America." This is the highest opinion that can be bestowed on the financial statements of a school bond program.
In its performance audit, Crowe Horwath found that the Propositions S and Z bond programs "complied, in all material respects, with California Proposition 39, as incorporated in Article 13A of the California Constitution and Education Code Section 15264 et seq. during the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2015." This is the highest opinion that can be bestowed on an operational performance of a school bond program."
RELATED LINKS
• SDTEF Report & scoreboard: http://www.sdcta.org/assets/files/2016%20School%20Bond%20Transparency%20in%20San%20Diego%20County%20Executive%20Summary%20Report%20with%20Scorecard%20MC.pdf
• SDTEF graphic: http://www.sdcta.org/policy/policy-detail.html?id=1751
• 2014-15 Audit: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/sandi/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A3GAQU78130C
• Props. S & Z Board Update: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/sandi/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A65W5Q83C711
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Contact: Cynthia Reed-Porter, Communications, 619-546-3378, creed-porter@sandi.net
Propositions S & Z: https://www.sandiegounified.org/facilities-bond-program-propositions-s-z
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Friday, July 22, 2016
Post Board Meeting Agendas, July 26, 2016
PLEASE NOTE:
· Closed Session Agenda—Tuesday, July 26, 2016, 3:30 p.m., Room 2249
Open and Closed Session Meeting Information: https://www.sandiegounified.org/meeting-information
· Regular Meeting Agenda—Tuesday, July 26, 2016, 5:00 p.m., Auditorium
BoardDocs Agenda Link: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/sandi/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A65UMC7957EF
Please forward to staff and as appropriate, print notice and/or agendas and post in a prominent, publicly accessible location at your site.
Thank you.
Confidential Administrative Assistant II
Board Services Office
4100 Normal Street, Room 2231
San Diego, CA 92103
( (619) 725-5551
7 (619) 297-5624
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Post Notice of Meeting Cancellation: Charter School Facility Committee
PLEASE NOTE:
· Notice of Meeting Cancellation: Charter School Facility Committee—July 28, 2016
Committee Meeting Information: https://www.sandiegounified.org/csfc-2016-meetings-schedule
Please forward to staff and as appropriate print notice and post in a prominent, publicly accessible location at your site.
Thank you.
Confidential Administrative Assistant II
Board Services Office
4100 Normal Street, Room 2231
San Diego, CA 92103
( (619) 725-5551
7 (619) 297-5624
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY: San Diego Unified Releases Latest Numbers On Its Outreach to Local Small Emerging Businesses at Sixth Annual Construction Expo
June 19, 2016
San Diego Unified Releases Latest Numbers On Its Outreach to Local Small Emerging Businesses at Sixth Annual Construction Expo
WHAT: During the first half of 2016, over 43 percent of all San Diego Unified School District's construction contracts were awarded to local emerging business enterprises.
PRESS CONFERENCE: Speakers include Board of Education President Mike McQuary, Superintendent Cindy Marten, and Mike Bilodeau, CEO, IO Environmental & Infrastructure. Bilodeau is a disabled-veteran business owner who is participating in the school district's Business Outreach Program, and has a contract to work on district projects.
CONSTRUCTION EXPO: The district is hosting its 2016 Construction Expo to give local, small business owners an opportunity to meet and talk with the district staff who oversee the design and construction of school facilities, and those who contract/procure products and services. Approximately 300 construction industry contractors are expected to attend the district's sixth annual expo, which will feature more than 50 exhibitors representing the school district, county agencies, professional organizations, local general contractors and consulting firms.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 20; Press conference--8:45 a.m.; Expo--9 a.m.-1p.m.
WHERE: Kearny High School's Stanley Foster School of Engineering, Innovation and Design (formerly Construction Tech Academy), 7651 Wellington Street, San Diego, CA 92111
OTHER SPEAKERS: In addition to the speakers at the press conference, Lee Dulgeroff, chief Facilities Planning & Construction Officer for San Diego Unified School District, and Karen Linehan, manager of the district's Business Outreach Program, will be available for interviews.
PHOTOS/VISUALS: Approximately 50 displays, workshop for attendees, attendees networking with industry/agency representatives
CONTACT: Cynthia Reed-Porter, Facilities Communications Supervisor, 619-546-3378, creed-porter@sandi.net
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Cynthia Reed-Porter, communications supervisor l Communications Office l San Diego Unified School District
Mobile phone: 619-546-3378 l E-mail: creed-porter@sandi.net
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