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BCSD to use general fund to finish HVAC projects after US Department of Education rescinds spending extension
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield City School District is expected to fund the remaining $22 million balance for its HVAC improvement projects through its general fund after federal officials abruptly canceled a previously approved COVID-19 fund spending extension in March.
The HVAC upgrade and chiller replacement projects seek to replace the chiller-based heating and cooling systems at schools with new HVAC systems, which provide 'more energy-efficient and reliable climate control' while also improving indoor air quality for students and staff, according to BCSD spokesperson Tabatha Mills.
The project is ongoing and under active construction at eight schools:
Munsey Elementary
Fremont Elementary
Wayside Elementary
Washington Middle School
Horace Mann Elementary
Mt. Vernon Elementary
Pioneer Drive Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary
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These projects were launched when the school district received funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III program, which was meant to support American schools as they address the impacts of the pandemic, according to Mills.
The remaining project balance is $21,912,159, according to the agenda for the board meeting set for Tuesday.
On March 28, the United States Department of Education rescinded its decision to extend the spending deadline for ESSER III for school districts that applied and were approved to get an extension.
While local education agencies like BCSD who were approved for an extension had until March 2026 to liquidate all its received funding, the Department of Education changed the deadline to March 28, 2025.
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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced the new deadline in a letter addressing state education chiefs on the same day as the new deadline, saying they 'ran the risk' of getting their extension request denied by not meeting the formal deadline in January.
'Extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department's priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion,' McMahon said.
This change prevents BCSD from finishing the HVAC improvement projects using federal grants.
At the board meeting May 27, the board approved the updated ESSER III Expenditure Plan. Through the updated plan, the funding source for the HVAC updates was moved from ESSER to the district's general fund to successfully complete the projects.
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This shift in funding will not result in any increase to BCSD's general fund budget and the board is not looking to approve new spendings regarding these projects at tonight's meeting, according to Mills.
If approved, BCSD will report the remaining construction commitments as of June 30 in its financial statement, Mills said.
The projects are all expected to be completed in the next fiscal year, according to the agenda.
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