Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) has started grading for Kolb Elementary School at the school’s Lockhart Street site across from Fallon Sports Park in Dublin, CA. DUSD plans to open Kolb Elementary in Fall 2011. In light of California’s state budget crisis, DUSD is required to use at least $28M of interim financing to build Kolb Elementary. Most projections assume that the state will not be able to deliver on the $28M for at least two years.

Construction of Kolb Elementary is critically important given that DUSD expects to have 100-200 more students than current capacity in East Dublin by 2011-2012. The District does currently have sufficient capacity for the 100-200 additional students when the schools in West Dublin are included, but diversion of up to 200 students from East Dublin to West Dublin is not politically expedient to DUSD at this time. In addition, DUSD is implementing facility and program standards that may decrease capacities in schools district wide.

While the State of California will owe at least $28M for the construction of Kolb Elementary, DUSD will need to bear the cost of the interim financing arrangement. In order to minimize interest payment, DUSD is hoping to obtain Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCBs) via a state lottery process. If DUSD is selected, the Federal government will pick up the tab for most of the interest expense. The QSCBs winners will be selected via a lottery process by the end of Summer 2010.

Please contact Project Manager Russ Brooking of DUSD with any related questions on the construction of Kolb Elementary School. Brooking can be reached at (925)828-2551 ext. 8074.