Title
Define and Approve the Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School Barrier Removal Project and Amend the Facilities Services Division Strategic Execution Plan to Incorporate Therein
Facilities Services Division and Division of Special Education
description
Brief Description:
(Define and Approve the Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School Barrier Removal Project and Amend the Facilities Services Division Strategic Execution Plan to Incorporate Therein) Recommends definition and approval of a barrier removal project at Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School (Board District 1, Region South) and the amendment of the Facilities Services Division Strategic Execution Plan to incorporate therein with a budget of $448,914; and authorize the Chief Procurement Officer and/or the Chief Facilities Executive and/or their designee(s) to execute all instruments necessary, as legally permissible, to implement the Project including budget modifications and the purchase of equipment and materials.
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Recommendation
Action Proposed:
1) Define and approve the Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School (School) Barrier Removal Project (Project) and amend the Facilities Services Division (Facilities) Strategic Execution Plan (SEP) to incorporate therein. The budget for the proposed Project is $448,914.
2) Authorize the Chief Procurement Officer and/or the Chief Facilities Executive and/or their designee(s) to execute all instruments necessary, as legally permissible, to implement the Project including budget modifications and the purchase of equipment and materials.
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Body
Background:
On October 10, 2017, the Board approved the Transition Plan under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to further Los Angeles Unified efforts to comply with ADA Title II program accessibility requirements. The Transition Plan outlined Los Angeles Unified's proposed approach to providing program accessibility, which considers the characteristics of Los Angeles Unified, student population, variety of educational programs, as well as the existing level of accessibility. The Transition Plan established a specific approach and goals for achieving program accessibility within eight years through facility modifications and operational means.
A need to accommodate students and staff with disabilities to access buildings at the School has been identified. Facilities staff were previously delegated authority to execute and expend Bond Program funds for Rapid Access Program (RAP) projects in response to an individual student's need for programmatic access. These types of projects require minor installments and adjustments to facilities to ensure a barrier-free learning environment, do not require Division of the State Architect (DSA) approval and thus can be completed "rapidly" with a budget that does not exceed $250,000. The proposed Project does not meet the parameters of the RAP due to its scope and budget. As such, the staff is presenting the proposed Project to the Board for approval.
The School site spans 13.46 acres and is comprised of a traditional middle school program. The building area is approximately 216,767 square feet and includes eight multi-story permanent buildings and eight single-story permanent buildings. The permanent buildings were constructed between 1929 and 1977. As of the 2024-2025 E-CAR, the school serves approximately 453 students and currently 96 students have been identified as having a disability.
The site has been assigned a Category Three accessibility level. To meet the criteria for Category Three, upgrades to one building are required including the reconfiguration of the nurse's office restrooms in the Administration building to provide an accessible restroom and an all-gender restroom, and any other required improvements or mitigations to ensure compliance with local, state and/or federal facilities requirements. Construction is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Bond Oversight Committee Recommendations:
This item was considered by the School Construction Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee (BOC) at its meeting on September 04, 2025, as referenced in Exhibit B. The presentation that was provided is included as Exhibit C. Staff have concluded that this proposed Facilities SEP amendment is in alignment with BOC recommendations and will facilitate Los Angeles Unified's ability to successfully complete the Facilities SEP.
Expected Outcomes:
Define and approve the Project and adopt the proposed amendment to the Facilities SEP to incorporate therein. Approval will authorize staff to proceed with the implementation of the proposed Project.
Board Options and Consequences:
Adoption of the proposed action will authorize staff to proceed with the expenditure of Bond Program funds to immediately implement the proposed Project.
If the Board does not approve the proposal, staff will be unable to initiate the barrier removal project which is required for compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA.
Policy Implications:
The proposed action will advance the Los Angeles Unified 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Pillar 4 Operational Effectiveness Modernizing Infrastructure by implementing accessibility improvements.
Any potential future room changes by Administrators or Principals will be reviewed by the Division of Special Education, the ADA Compliance Administrator, and the Facilities Services Division to ensure that new accessibility problems are not created as a result of the classroom moves. This will be done in close coordination with school staff to ensure disruptions are minimized.
Budget Impact:
The total budget for the proposed Project is $448,914 and will be funded with Bond Program funds earmarked specifically for ADA Transition Plan Implementation.
The budget was prepared based on the current information known, and assumptions about the scope, site conditions, and market conditions. The budget will be reviewed throughout the planning, design, and construction phases as new information becomes known or unforeseen conditions arise and will be adjusted accordingly to enable the successful completion of the proposed Project.
Student Impact:
The proposed Project will remove barriers to program accessibility for approximately 450 current and future students and qualified members of the community and ensure that all have an equal opportunity to access programs and activities at this campus.
Equity Impact:
Facilities staff work to coordinate Los Angeles Unified efforts under the ADA to ensure programs are accessible by students, parents, and community members with disabilities.
Issues and Analysis:
Both Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 impose broad-reaching prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of disability. As to facilities, a key requirement for both the ADA and Section 504 is program accessibility: programs, benefits, services, and activities provided by public entities must be accessible to people with disabilities. This means that a qualified individual with a disability is not to be discriminated against because the entity's facilities are inaccessible; however, this does not necessarily mean that all facilities must be accessible. While both laws do require that newly constructed and altered facilities meet stringent accessibility requirements, they do not require that all existing facilities meet those standards, so long as the programs and services provided in those facilities are made accessible to people with disabilities. A program or service can be made accessible by relocating it, providing it in a different manner, or utilizing some other strategy to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to benefit from the entity's programs and activities. This proposed Project is in alignment with Los Angeles Unified's implementation of the Board-approved Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.
The School has been assigned a Category Three accessibility level pursuant to the Transition Plan. Staff considered the possibility of reprioritizing the schools on the Transition Plan list and proposing a more robust scope that would address all programmatic access requirements. However, it was determined that reconfiguring the nurse's office restrooms in the Administration building to provide an accessible restroom and an all-gender restroom would provide students and staff direct access to the building. Additional accessibility improvements could be undertaken under new projects at a later date, as anticipated under the Transition Plan.
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) will evaluate the proposed Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Attachments:
Exhibit A - Student Eligibility by Program at Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School
Exhibit B - BOC Resolution
Exhibit C - BOC Presentation
Informatives:
None
Submitted:
08/21/25
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, APPROVED BY:
______________________________ _____________________________
ALBERTO M. CARVALHO PEDRO SALCIDO
Superintendent Deputy Superintendent,
Business Services and Operations
REVIEWED BY: APPROVED BY:
______________________________ ______________________________
DEVORA NAVERA REED KRISZTINA TOKES
General Counsel Chief Facilities Executive
Facilities Services Division
___ Approved as to form.
REVIEWED BY: PRESENTED BY:
______________________________ ______________________________
KURT E. JOHN ISSAM DAHDUL
Deputy Chief Financial Officer Director of Facilities
Planning & Development
Facilities Services Division
___ Approved as to budget impact statement.