July 30, 2014

The following article ran on the Green Technology Magazine website on July 29, 2014.  Bill was the C.A.S.H. Chair from 2009 – 2011

School Facilities:  The Next Era of Construction and Upgrades

An interview with Bill Savidge, Assistant Executive Officer, State Allocation Board

Bill Savidge was appointed as Assistant Executive Officer by the State Allocation Board (SAB) in the fall of 2011. He works with the Office of Public School Construction to provide support for the SAB in processing and approving funding for school construction and modernization in California.

Prior to beginning work with the state, he managed school district facilities programs for over sixteen years, guiding many school boards, oversight groups, and communities through the complexities of the school design and construction processes in California. He served as the Engineering Officer for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, where he was responsible for all aspects of the District’s $1.4 billion renovation and reconstruction program at 50 sites throughout West County. He has a Masters of Architecture from UC Berkeley, is a licensed California Architect, and is a former Construction Project Manager.

In a Green Technology interview, he discusses the next round of efforts to upgrade school facilities.

July 25, 2014

Are you ready?

Effective August 1, 2014, California’s Division of the State Architect (DSA) is implementing a new project certification process. Project certification will be achieved through the timely submission of required project documents. To emphasize the importance of the timely submission of documents, DSA reminds all design professionals, inspectors, laboratories, school districts, community colleges, governing boards, and staff that certification starts when construction begins.

July 23, 2014 – Updated August 8, 2014

The Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.) is working hard on the 2014 State School Bond Campaign. Members of the Legislature and others are as well, some of them submitted opinions to local newspapers in support of a State School Bond:

• Gov. Jerry Brown resists unzipping school construction wallet- George Skelton – Los Angeles Times
• California in desperate need of new school facilities bond – Assembly Members Joan Buchanan, Curt Hagman – Contra Costa Times 
• Why Latino Caucus wants school bond on the ballot this year – Assembly Member Luis Alejo – Mercury News 
• School bond would help children learn and create new jobs– Assembly Member Kristin Olsen – Modesto Bee 
• Investing in school infrastructure  – CBIA CEO Dave Cogdill – OC Register 
• California needs statewide school bond measure on November ballot: Carlos Rodriguez, CBIA – Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
• Viewpoints: School bond needed to ensure student success, improve state economic outlook – Allan Zaremberg and Dave Gordon -Sacramento Bee
• School Bond Backers Pressure Brown to Reach a Deal – Ben Adler – Capital Public Radio
• Children will benefit from a state school bond – John R. Beckman, CEO, BIA of the Greater Valley – Turlock Journal
• John R. Beckman: California needs school bond – Modesto Bee
• We Need a Statewide School Bond – Commentary by Brian Walters and Dr. Marc Winger – Newhall School District – SCV News
• School bond bill will help update schools left behind during recession – John R. Beckman, Building Industry Association ot the Greater Valley – Lodi News Sentinel
• Buchanan Urges Brown to Pass School Bond Bill – The Independent
• Educators Urge Lawmakers to Support School Bond Legislation to Build, Repair and Modernize California Schools: CTA Media Statement

The next State Allocation Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27. However, C.A.S.H. will be holding the following meetings on Wednesday, July 23 in Sacramento.

9:15 am – 10:45 am
Board of Directors Meeting
1303 J Street, Suite 500

11:00 am – 12:15 pm
General Membership Meeting
1130 K Street, Lower Level, Conference Room A

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Membership Committee Meeting
1130 K Street, Suite 210 Conference Room

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Annual Conference Planning Committee – Co-Chairs Only
1130 K Street, Lower Level, Conference Room A

1:30 pm
C.A.S.H./AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards Committee Meeting
1130 K Street, Lower Level, Conference Room C

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Legislative Advisory/Urban Committee Meeting
1130 K Street, Lower Level, Conference Room A

~~ C.A.S.H. Staff