INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE Los Angeles Unified School District TO: Members, Board of Bivodtion = DATE: March 8, 2011 FROM: Ramon C. Coftiftes, Superintendent of Schools SUBJECT: INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Overview ‘A week ago this Monday, the Facilities Services Division received a notification from the Division of the State Architect (DSA) that the required forms formally assigning a Project Inspector to 14 projects and the semi- monthly inspection progress reports for these projects were outstanding. Facilities provided DSA with an update on the status of the reports and forms for approximately half of these projects last Friday, however the actual documentation has not been provided to date. All requited documents will be submitted by this Friday, March 11,2011, which will fulfill the orders to comply. The required signatures for the forms are being expedited and reports are being assembled for submission. Thave spoken with Facilities leadership numerous times over the last several weeks regarding the concems about adequate inspection on our school construction sites and am confident that Facilities is taking the necessary steps to ensure we are in compliance with all relevant laws. I have been assured that our school construction projects are being inspected, however since the December 2010 Reduction in Force (RIFs), the inspection at some project sites may have been more temporary and/or tactical in nature versus continuous. If it is determined that our current staffing levels are not adequate for the updated workload projections, we will take the necessary actions to ensure our schools are inspected as required by law. This could mean reinstating District Inspectors, temporarily hiring contract professionals and/or temporarily suspending work. Asa result of the recent arbitration with the Teamsters, contract professionals providing Inspection services were laid off prior to District employees within the same classification. The Inspection department was reduced by 37 DSA certified Inspectors, of which 19 were contract professionals. DSA-5 Form and Progress Reports In order to be in compliance with DSA regulations, school districts must submit a DSA-5 form for each active construction project to DSA for their approval. A DSA-S form is a Project/Special Inspector Qualification Record that lists the name of the Project Inspector, his/her experience and commitment/workload. A Project Inspector is employed by a school distrieVowner, however the Project Architect must accept, and DSA must approve the Project Inspector. As such, the DSA-5 form must be signed by the Project Inspector, School District representative, Project Architect and Structural Engineer (where applicable) prior to submission to DSA. The signature of a School District representative on a DSA-5 form also acknowledges that while the Project Inspector is responsible to the District, he/she will act under the direction of the Project Architect and DSA. By law, Project Inspectors are required to perform certain duties, including the twice-monthly submission of construction progress reports to DSA. Broadly speaking, these reports must provide an overview of the project indicating progress/updates in the following categories:Construction work accomplished Changes to the approved plans and specifications ‘Summary of materials testing and special inspections performed Instructions received from the design professionals(s) during the time period Problems, concems or unusual conditions Official site visitors Reports from any DSA Field Engineer that may have visited the site ‘Status of 14 Projects with Orders to Comply 1. Burbank Middle School Construction of Gym/Classroom Building © Previous District Assistant Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 © District Project Inspector assigned all duties for the site- Emil Ohanian © February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicates Project Inspector on site © Generating a notification to DSA to confirm there have been no interruptions to inspection 2. Carson High Schoo! Construction of Administrative Building, Student Store Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part-time Inspector on site DSA-S form in process and being expedited; awaiting Architect’s signature 3. Coldwater Canyon Elementary School Alteration to Administrative Building Previous District Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on March 8, 2011 — Bill Kamenos February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part-time Inspector on site DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited 4, Coldwater Canyon Elementary School Alteration to Library/Classroom Building ‘© Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 ‘© Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on March 8, 2011 — Bill Kamenos ‘© February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part-time Inspector on site ‘* DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited 5. Elizabeth Learning Center Alteration to Classroom Building; Toilet Building ‘© Previous District Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 © Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on January 10, 2011 ~ Sandor Matte © February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicates Project Inspector terminated, but job temporarily suspended © DSA-5 form in process and being expedited; awaiting Architect's signature 6. Erwin Middle School Alteration to Classroom Buildings Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on March 8, 2011 - Craig Johns February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part-time Inspector on site DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited Replacement contract professional Project Inspector assigned on December 1, 2010 - Jack Dunne7. Franklin High School Fire Damage Repair to Gym Building * Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 * Contract professional Project Inspector reinstated on December 22, 2010, when project level was increased by DSA — Ron Price ‘* February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated Inspector was removed but was reinstated * Expediting notification to DSA that previous Project Inspector has been reinstated 8. Los Angeles High School Alteration to Administration/Classroom Building; Library/Classroom Building Previous District Project Inspector bumped on November 30, 2010 District Project Inspector reinstated on February 1, 2011- David Gaeta February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part time Inspector on site Expediting notification to DSA that previous Project Inspector has been reinstated eee 9. Manhattan Place Elementary Alteration of Administration/Classroom Building «Previous District Project Inspector bumped on November 30, 2010 ‘© Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on March 8, 2011- Bach Vuong «February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated Project Inspector terminated © DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited 10, Sierra Park Elementary Construction of Elevator and Arcade ‘© Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 Replacement contract professional Project Inspector assigned on February 1, 2011 — Jack Dunne February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated Project Inspector on site DSA.-S5 form in process and being expedited; awaiting Architect’s signature 11. South Los Angeles High School #3 Constton of Classroom Building; MP Building; Gym Building ‘No interruption of Inspection services ‘* Inspector of Record - Thomas Cao, District Employee « February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated project Inspector on site full-time with one Assistant Project Inspector ‘© Generating a notification to DSA to confirm there have been no interruptions to inspection 12. Verdugo Hills High School Alteration to Locker Building ‘Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 ‘© Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on March 3, 2011 - Bill Kamenos © February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part-time Inspector on site ‘* DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited 13, Verdugo Hills High School Alteration to Administrative/Classroom Building; Café Building ‘* Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 ‘Replacement District Project Inspector assigned on March 3, 2011- Bill Kamenos February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated part-time Inspector on site © DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited 14, Vinedale Elementary Alteration to Administrative Building; KG Building; Kitchen Building ‘* Previous contract professional Project Inspector terminated on November 30, 2010 ‘* Replacement District Inspector assigned on March 8, 2011 ~Craig Johns ‘© February 2011 DSA Field Engineer Analysis indicated Project Inspector assigned but currently no work ‘* DSA-5 form being generated today and required signatories being expedited