School District Spends another $55,000 on Controversial Fence

Last week, the Alameda Unified School District approved spending an additional $54,519 on the controversial seismic retrofit fence surrounding the historic Alameda High School building.

Technically, the additional $55,000 was a pursuant to a construction change order “due to unforeseen circumstances and for additional safety and support parts needed for the seismic egress fencing structure.”

The fence has been controversial in part because it represents a multimillion expenditure by the school district administration, approved by a three-person majority on the Board of Trustees, to relocate the districts administrative offices at 2060 Challenger Drive in Marina Village.

The Alameda Education Association, in particular, has been troubled by the expenditures, and has backed a slate of three candidates for this November’s school board election, hoping to oust two of the incumbent school members who voted to approve the administrative office relocation.

Originally, the school district estimated in a June 26th, 2012 presentation, that the cost of the seismic retrofitting of the building, including fence construction, would run to $887,000 plus $266,100 in project administration and testing fees.

The latest approved expenditure brings the total to over $1.2 million.