A. The Board
shall prepare a New Construction Analysis for a school district that requests
funding for additional square footage under the capital plan submitted under
R7-6-501 . The Board shall review
the data submitted by the school district to determine student capacity of the
school district, district student population projections, and existing square
footage in the district. The Board shall provide a copy of the New Construction
Analysis to the applicable school district.
B. If a school district proposes to locate a
new school facility in territory in the vicinity of an airport, as defined in
A.R.S. §
28-8461, the Board shall provide
notice to the airport of the proposed new school facility and seek comments and
analysis concerning whether the high noise or accident potential associated
with airport operations is compatible with the proposed school facility and
public health and safety. The Board shall consider the comments and analysis
provided by the airport before deciding whether to fund the new school
facility.
C. At an open meeting and
after reviewing the New Construction Analysis prepared under subsection (A) and
hearing from members of the applicable school district, the Board shall decide
the number of square feet and students to be funded for the district, the
funding per square foot approved by the legislature, and the total budget based
on the funding per square foot.
D.
After a school district signs the Terms and Conditions for New School Funding,
the Board may make five percent of the funds approved available for
architectural and engineering fees. The school district is responsible for
deciding the actual amount spent on architectural and engineering
fees.
E. A school district that is
approved for funding for additional square footage shall proceed with the
design development plan and specifications for the project. The school district
shall submit to the Board one or more copies of the proposed drawings,
specifications, schematic design, and budget estimates. The school district
shall ensure all elements of new construction, excluding land acquisition, are
included in the estimated budget. These elements include, but are not limited
to:
1. Architectural and engineering
fees;
2. Surveying, testing,
obtaining permits, advertising, and printing;
3. Construction costs;
4. Furniture, fixtures, and
equipment;
5. Any necessary project
management; and
6. A three percent
contingency amount to ensure the completed project meets all Minimum Adequacy
Guidelines.
F.
If the school district includes reasonable upgrades
to the new construction project for energy conservation purposes, the Board
shall provide funding upgrades above the formula based award to cover the full
amount of the upgrade. Upgrades will only be funded if the upgrade receives
pre-approval by the Board staff and the school district architect or engineer
certifies that the upgrade will provide dollar savings in excess of the cost of
the upgrade within an eight-year period.
G.F. After
reviewing the materials submitted under subsection (E), the Board shall decide
whether to authorize the school district to proceed with construction of the
additional square footage. The Board shall base the decision on whether the
project is within the original scope and Board approval, the project meets the
Minimum Adequacy Guidelines, initial comments from the local building authority
and whether revised student population projections continue to justify the
additional square footage. If the Board authorizes the school district to
proceed, the school district may initiate construction. If the Board determines
a project is outside of the original scope and /or Board approval or does not
meet the Minimum Adequacy Guidelines, the Board may instruct the school
district to resubmit under subsection (E) or make an alternative decision.
Other funds may be used by the school district in conjunction with the Board
approved funding.
H.
Upon receipt of bids by the school district, the
Executive Director shall authorize the district to proceed with the contract if
the school district has documented that it has obtained local (city, county or
equivalent) building department approval, and the bid is within the original
scope and Board approved budget, and meets the building adequacy standards. The
Executive Director may make an alternative recommendation to the full
Board.
I.
The Board-approved funding for additional square
footage shall be available to the school district for one year from the date of
notification. The bid process shall be completed within the one-year period.
The Board shall consider requests for an extension beyond the one year and may
grant an extension for good reason.
J.G. The Board may
modify or waive the requirements of this Section for good
cause.
