Since Hermosa Beach voters soundly passed its $13.6 million school bond in November, the Hermosa Beach School District has prepared itself for the next key steps in a process that will eventually result in major school renovation and construction projects.

According to Hermosa Beach Superintendent Duffy Clark, the School District is in the midst of several multilateral efforts, all a part of the next phase to upgrade existing school facilities along with building new classrooms and a gym.

“We are taking it one step at a time,” said Clark. “I don’t know when the actual improvement and construction process will begin. We are not that far along yet. We are moving as quickly as we can but also in an appropriate manner. We still want to remain thoughtful and be as thorough as possible.”

The district is now interviewing construction management firms that will assist it in hiring an architecture firm. Top candidates vying for the construction management bid will go before the Hermosa Beach School Board for final approval during its Jan. 15 meeting.

The construction management firm will assist the School District in selecting an architecture firm. Soon after, the district will commence on prioritizing its facilities project list that entails various buildings and classrooms needing improvements along with new construction plans.

The Facilities Advisory Committee — formed more than a year ago with members including city employees, district officials, residents and school administrators — will still act as a liaison between the School Board and the hired firms. The group is now a mix of members who have been with the effort since conception along with new ones who have joined the group since then. The committee will continue to be involved by consulting with the architecture firm that has yet to be selected.

“It’s a collaborative effort among the community, the district and the firms the district hires. Proposals will eventually be presented to the board,” added Clark. “We will have the architects working with the committee throughout the entire process.”

Following a resolution adoption by the School Board, Clark will soon head the selection process for an independent citizens oversight committee that must be formed by mid-February. He is encouraging all community members interested in participating in the process to apply for a spot on the committee.

“We are now soliciting membership for the committee and those who are interested can call the district office,” said Clark.

This new advisory group of community members, parents, business owners and employees of local agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce, will oversee the expenditures of all bond monies the district will receive until 2013.

An estimated 85 percent of all bond funds will go to improvement projects that will upgrade some buildings dating back to the 1950s.

Based on Proposition 39 policies, any bond passed during this type of election can only be used solely on school facilities. It prohibits the district from spending it on what legislation defines as “teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.”

A taxpayer safeguard instituted by Proposition 39 is the formation of this committee to ensure bond funds are spent on projects promised to the voters. The passage of this bond also requires annual financial audits conducted in conjunction with the oversight group.

The School District is also preparing to submit architecture plans to the state in the hopes of receiving an estimated $1.7 million from a $13.5 billion statewide bond also passed in November.

“We hope to have these plans submitted by the spring so we can get in line for this state money,” said Clark.

A portion of local bond funds combined with the state bond amount would give the district $3 million to possibly buy the 24,000-square-foot Adelphia site.

A new gym will cost the district about $2.2 million, new classrooms will reach an estimated $1.9 million and the cost to modernize older classrooms will follow at slightly more than $1 million.

About $3.5 million will pay for numerous improvements to Valley’s electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and heating systems along with restrooms and other student facilities, including technology labs.

Approximately $3.4 million will go to Hermosa View School for various modernization projects on restrooms, food service areas and older classrooms along with upgrading and replacement of plumbing and electrical systems.

The district will now receive $9.6 million up front, and is scheduled to receive $1.9 million in 2008 and $2.1 million 2013.