The Fullerton Joint Union High School District April 8 board meeting honored Annual Art Award winners and star winter athletes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oshft2_0UEE  beginning at minute 31 for all the celebrations.

Prop 28 Fund Allocation

During public comments, parents of the Fullerton Union High School (FUHS) Instrumental Music Booster Club (IMBC) asked why Prop 28 Arts funds were delayed from a promised fall 2024 disbursement. The parents sought district transparency about why marching band, drumline, and color guard coaches had not been fully paid and new uniforms not purchased yet.

In addition, FUHS asked parents to give more money to FUHS instrumental groups to participate successfully in competitions. Trustees cannot legally comment on non-agendized items, but Superintendent Dr. Steve McLaughlin directed concerned parents to contact the Director of Educational Services, Dr. Joshua Porter, at (714)870-2872 for clarity on the matter.
Facilities Update

Director of Facilities Vince Madsen announced the first five Bond “L” projects planned to break ground in 2026 and listed deferred maintenance projects planned for summer 2025, including artificial turf replacement at FUHS Stadium.
Facilities Bond “L” projects also include work on synthetic turf fields at Sonora, Troy (TRHS), and Sunny Hills High Schools. A new synthetic turf product called TenCate ‘Pivot’ will be installed.

This turf product is advertised as containing no per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (tested true), being recyclable (not exactly), and including a Calcium Carbonate “GeoCool” additive that lowers the field temperature by 50°F (tested true).

This last feature will address the physical impact and heat issues that exist on the current synthetic turf field, but which were denied as problematic when the stadium’s synthetic turf was installed in 2017.

The TenCate turf product does not require rubber infill to achieve its required “G Max” pressure resistance rating. It uses recycled polyester padding under an extra thick “turf” carpet topper that is guaranteed for 12 years.

In addition to the new synthetic playing fields, FUHS has a new two-story athletic building (no details if this includes new locker rooms or the roof-level tennis court area), and TRHS has a seismic modernization project.

The FUHS Stadium synthetic turf replacement is funded through schedule 40 funds, not facility bond funds. Replacement and removal of existing infill and turf will be just under $1 million. Considering the initial $5 million cost eight years ago, the stadium’s artificial turf (not counting maintenance, water cooling, and cleaning fees) has cost over $600,000 a year for the district.

Athletes can utilize synthetic turf every day, except for days when higher temperatures activate hot weather policies. Synthetic turf can read 40-50°F hotter than the air temperature. Watering down a field to cool the plastic only lasts 5-10 minutes on days over 100°.

In addition, FJUHSD’s deferred maintenance list for summer 2025 includes agriculture shade structures, pig pen demolition, culinary arts classroom upgrades, administration offices, locker room roof replacements and coaching and team room HVAC upgrades, gymnasium floor refinishing, and adjustable blackboard installations. The district received a CAL Shape Grant to replace all plumbing fixtures districtwide with energy and water-efficient models.

Mr. Madsen presented a resolution for the board to authorize the option to bid out projects as a “Lease and Leaseback” project where the district leases out a facilities area to the chosen contractor for $1 and then pays out the contractor’s final payment over the 12 months following project completion. This method incentivizes the contractor to finish the build quickly, stay within budget, minimize change orders, and come back to adjust or fix any issues during the first year post-completion. The FJUHSD board approved 5-0.

Trustee Marilyn Buchi asked to clarify the payback process of the “Lease-Leaseback” proposed funding option and praised the new TenCate Pivot turf material.

The next scheduled regular board meeting is May 13 at 6pm.