PUSD BOE Meeting - 11/05/2026 - 6:00 PM

At its regular November 5, 2026 meeting, the Poway Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved the recommended direction for Del Sur Elementary School remediation and reconstruction: remove the affected chiller piping and central system, install a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC system and corridor ventilation, and restore interior finishes. Staff described a roughly $4.2 million project line item for HVAC and finish work; the transcript’s cost figures are partly garbled. Funding is expected to be split between existing Community Facilities District funds and a state facilities hardship grant, with staff pursuing up to 50% state matching funds. No construction contract was awarded at this meeting: proposals are being solicited for a lease-leaseback approach, with preconstruction services expected to come before the board in December and a guaranteed maximum price to follow. Staff’s target is project completion in July 2027 and reopening for the 2027–28 school year. Trustees requested comparative cost information for VRF versus a conventional system before final contracting decisions.

The board also approved expanding the Poway to Palomar Middle College program to include 10th graders beginning in 2027–28, with discussion emphasizing close monitoring of enrollment, costs, staffing, and student outcomes; trustees called for a review after the first year before deciding on continuation beyond the pilot period. Public commenters questioned the program’s reported fiscal sustainability, while staff cited improved 2025–26 actuals and higher attendance. Other major agenda topics included student achievement and family-engagement reports, future school calendars, and policy first readings. The meeting did not include an award of a vendor contract or other final construction bid approval.