CUSD Board Meeting 10-21-26

The Carlsbad Unified School District Board meeting on October 21, 2026, included two significant facilities matters. The board unanimously approved (5–0) a preliminary guaranteed maximum price of $16.89 million for a lease-leaseback construction contract with Lassardi Construction Company for the Pacific Rim Elementary School project, funded through Measure HH bond proceeds; the amount includes about $1.16 million in contingency, with unused contingency to be returned to the district. The board also voted 5–0 on action related to the Sage Creek High School soil-settlement findings and recommended next steps. Consultants estimated eligible repairs at approximately $27 million and said the state’s Office of Public School Construction may fund 60%, leaving a 40% district share, subject to further review and approvals by DSA and OPSC. No final construction contract for the Sage Creek work was awarded at this meeting.

The board discussed whether the district should pay fingerprinting fees for level-two volunteers, with staff estimating costs of about $240,000 this school year (potentially about $264,000 if certain foundation-funded bus trips were not included). Trustees considered hardship assistance and other approaches, but the transcript does not show a final vote on funding. Other discussion focused on the district’s Forward Together school-climate plan, including requests for more public reporting of outcomes and personnel practices; no new procurement award was identified in that discussion.