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A virtual meeting of the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday deemed a number of construction projects as essential to ensure that work on them continues during the recent closure of DUSD schools and other sites.
Last month the Board approved the dismissal of all DUSD schools in an effort to curb the transmission of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), shutting down classrooms for the remainder of the school year.
The Trustees voted 3-2 to allow work to continue on 10 selected projects while Alameda County and six other Bay Area jurisdictions remain under a shelter-at-home order through May 3. The designation will allow work on specific school construction projects to “continue toward completion as they are essential to the function and growth of the district” and “without compromising student health and safety, and without impacting students or the district’s budget for the projects,” according to DUSD.
The projects include expansion and modernization at Frederiksen, Murray and Dublin Elementary, district office renovations, district-wide energy saving improvements, and building the second comprehensive high school. Dublin High will also receive a number of upgrades such as a brand new science and engineering building and an expanded parking lot with around 200 parking spaces at the former Dublin Swim Center site.
Prior to the public meeting, the Trustees met in closed session for a discussion concerning a public employee performance evaluation of Superintendent Dave Marken. Though the meeting was off the public record, the district clarified that the evaluation was a “follow up of a formal mid-year review.”
Marken, who was appointed last summer as superintendent for the next two years, had lots of public approval on Tuesday evening. A total of 132 comments were submitted, all of them in support of Marken–and 118 from district employees that submitted the same statement proclaiming their “complete faith in the leadership of Dr. Marken.”
“While I can’t confirm, having not talked to the (Dublin Teachers Association) or (California School Employees Association), this appears to have been an effort on their behalf to let the Board know the Superintendent has broad staff support,” said DUSD spokesperson Chip Dehnert.
The comment, which was read by Director of Communication and Community Engagement Sarah Lopez, continued: “As (DUSD) employees, we know that leaders make decisions in the best interests of all students because we do that every day. Dr. Marken has provided by example his commitment to the Dublin community as a whole-all Dublin students, all Dublin schools and all Dublin employees. Thank you, Dr. Marken.”
Unless construction on school sites is/has been *already* underway, then it is NOT essential. Starting new projects is NOT essential at this time.
The whole point of “stay in place” is to protect people, not a school district budget or calendar. Inconvenient, yes, but not potentially worth the lives of construction workers, inspectors, and workers up and down the material supply chain. If the DSUD Trustees feel this is so important, then they should all be out there every day, elbow to elbow with the workers, putting their own health on the line in solidarity.
I hope the county/city inspectors will draw the line in the sand and say NO to NEW construction!