Facilities and Construction Committee - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the Facilities and Construction Committee meeting for Wednesday, July 15, 2026. And I call this meeting to order. What happened to the clock? I don't know.

Budget cuts? Oh, budget cuts. Budget cuts.

Okay, I think it's about five, ten after five, I think. Okay. Yes. Committee membership.

Yes. Mr. Danny Espino, Chair. Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mendengal, Vice Chair. Ms. Luisa Santos, Member. Mr. Joseph Geller, Member. Mr. Roberto Alonso, alternate member. Ms. Mary Terry, school board chair, ex-officio member. Ms. Monica Colucci, vice chair, ex-officio member. And Mrs. Mary Blanco, non-voting member. First order of business is to approve the June 10th, 2026 facilities and construction committee meeting minutes.

No questions, no concerns? Seeing none, you did the motion. Did I get a second? Thank you. The minutes are approved. All in favor? Aye. So now the minutes are approved. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Let's move the F items to the floor. May I have a motion? Second. All those in favor? Aye. Good. Mr. Raul F. Perez will present F1, F2. Let me do it this way. If you don't have questions, I'll just let him go through the F items. But if you have questions, raise your hand. You do? Okay. Well, let's do it the way we usually do it. Okay, Mr. Perez will present F-1.

Questions? Okay. Move on. Okay. Move on to F2.

There you are. Thank you. Board Member Blanco, please.

Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you. I have Member Geller, and then Alonso, and then Madam Chair.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. And I also want to indicate that I joined my colleague, Member Blanco in saying that I support this item. I think it's a great item. I think it's exactly the kind of item that we need to be moving forward with. And I'm also very pleased to see this happening. We have some excess space if we can use it and offset some revenue. I think Board Member Blanco's right saying we should have a policy I'm not so concerned with what the policy says, frankly. I mean, you know, I think that's very much a function of what the superintendent wants to do and how resources need to

Okay. Thank you. Should hear from Member Alonso.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to speak. And Board Member Blanco, I'm completely with you. I have one of these new centers at one of my schools that is opening up right now in August. And they're great partners. I think this is one of the greatest programs that we're doing in our schools because it's not only generating revenue, it's bringing students into our schools early on. And more importantly, it's providing families a safe and secure place where students, their young children can be at Nothing against our friends that own shopping centers, but sometimes our shopping centers

Madam Chair? Yes, ma'am, but I believe the superintendent wanted to follow up first, so that's fine.

Thank you. yeah yes thank you madam chair thank you um and uh i have in my district uh like many others but in mine i have many many many schools that are quite old and they need a lot of love a lot of attention and a lot a lot of additional dollars to be able to get them to where they need to be nowadays, to be competitive in any way, shape, or form with anyone else, whether it's charter, whether it's parochial, whether it's homeschooling, whatever the case may be. Those old schools, which I have many, need a lot a lot of assistance. So when all these were coming in, I also have had the same

Thank you very much. And I'm going to just add a little bit to what we're talking about, and not because I spoke of her today, Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, Of course, we have a school named in her honor. And the family has me on speed dial. Honorable, have you seen Mama's school? Yeah. So I just want you all to complete the conversation. But it sounds like what you're saying. And we all have the same issue. So we are doing a bit more. but it's the funding that you're talking about. We need that to take care of the issues at our schools, okay? All right, someone? Yes, go right ahead.

Well, Madam Chair, on F3, I just want to express support for it. It's in my district. It's a very helpful thing. It helps the temple and, you know, certainly is good for the school as well. Gets a little attention to it. So definitely in support of that item. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much. Now maybe move to F4.

Yes, thank you very much. Mr. Perez, could you please elaborate on this one? Again, it's a housing project for the elderly And as it's stated on here, and on the others too, it says 55 years of age and older.

So through the chair, they would definitely have to come back to the school board.

So very similar to F6. Again, that's the one in Coral Gables. I just wondered, does this mean that if you're 55 years of age, you're considered elderly? Well, it's on there. That is the first thing on there. I get that a lot.

So, and where does this come from? Who made this determination? At 55, you're like a baby in pampers.

Oh my goodness. Okay, thank you very much. Madam Chair, you broke up the meeting. I think so. You did, you did. Okay, that was F5, F6.

Thank you, and Madam Chair, that's the same, it applies the same as.

Sure, but I have a question then. Yes. I remember a time when, I used to be a community school assistant principal also, yes. We provided classes and everything. Do they still do that, you know, in these centers for the elderly?

I like that. Thank you very much. That's F7 now.

Okay, questions, comments? No. Okay, let's move to F26. And hold on, please. I'm going to... Madam Chair, you might have to do this. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. Yes, I'm going to have comments. So F26?

I do. Because I'm going to... F26 is the termination of agreement without cost with Silva Architects LLC as architect engineer of record for Lenora Brennan Smith Elementary School phase two renovations and partial replacement project number 02297800. At this time, I'm opening it up for questions. First, Mr. Perez, would you like to address it and then we'll open it up to my colleagues?

All right, thank you. I'm going to open up. Dr. Bendros-Mendingo.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I'll give you a little back story on Lenora Brennan Smith. elementary school, it would take a long time if I told you the whole story, but I'm gonna give you a little, and how the name became what it is. There's a place out there that's called Railroad Shop Colored Addition. There was a good time ago, a movement that recall gentrification that moved 37 families out of housing from 36th Street to 54th Street, 12th Avenue to 17th Avenue. All of the families were moved. My family was one of them. How do I remember that it was raining? I was a little I had short legs a

Well, thank you very, through the chair, thank you very much. The item indicates that the construction documents have been completed, as you said, and approved, and that all obligations between the district and the architect have been resolved. If this recommendation allows the district to move the project forward more efficiently and without legal complications, then I do support it. And has that happened? No legal complications.

Follow-up, Madam Chair? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I respectfully ask the administration to keep this board... informed throughout the transition. I've been in that school so many times because remember, it holds a great deal of respect to 37 families, my family being one. And Georgia Jones Ayers, her family was one also. I've got to make sure that everything that you do in that space, because remember now, our families were booted out And what happened, I have to tell this little piece, we were moved so they could build schools. Not for the people who were living there, but for others. And Georgi

Yes, I have two board members I would like to speak. Board Member Alonso and Board Member Geller now also asked. Board Member Alonso.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and thank you, Dr. Dorothy Bendres-Mendigo, for bringing that point up. And I think it's important that history never be erased. in any of these sites and I think it's important that the district really take an initiative that anything that happens in any of these redevelopment sites, that the name is never erased. Whatever's gonna go into any of these sites, that name stays with the site and whether we're leasing it or redeveloping it, whoever we're gonna partner with needs to understand that there's a history to that site and that the name and the history arou

Thank you. Board Member Geller, sir, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and I'll be very brief. I just, again, want to... associate myself with the remarks of my dear sister about Georgia Jones Ayers. I knew Ms. Ayers. I was at her house for meetings. She had that big room in the back that was built, that big rectangular room where you could sit around and organize. And I was in that room when organizing was happening. So she was a great lady. She was a leader in this community. And I just want to agree that whatever's gonna be done needs to honor her legacy. I knew her, and boy, she was impressive, so thank you.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else? All right. Seeing that no one else has any further comments, on F26, we're gonna proceed to F27. F27. It's a termination of agreement without cause with Silva Architects, LLC, as architect engineer of record for the new early childhood center. I thought I saw someone wanting to speak. Pre-K through first grade project for Aventura Waterways K-8 Center, project number 02685500. I'm opening up now to Mr. Perez to make presentation, and if anyone wants to comment, let me know. Mr. Perez, sir? Yes, I will call you, sir. Go ahead, sir.

Thank you very much. Board Member Geller, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand that I mean, this is without cause. It's not a fault on the part of the architect or anything. This is simply we don't need an extra building is my understanding.

Follow-up, Madam Chair? Yes, sir. So that's perfectly fine. I mean, that's my district, and that's a great school. My daughter went to that school. But I just, if you could briefly, the hour is late, but if you could just briefly say what the plan is in view of what you said, the enrollment trends, et cetera, what the plan is for the program for the Early Childhood Center and how that will be moving forward. Just briefly, we don't need all the details, but I would like to hear just a little bit so I can assure my constituents up there that that program is still happening, even if it's not happ

Mr. Geller, sir, would you like to say anything else?

Sorry, Madam Chair, I'm satisfied with that. As long as that program's going forward, I have no further follow-up. I appreciate your asking. But, you know, hearing that it's ongoing and will still be there, that's enough for me. Thank you, ma'am.

Yes, thank you, sir. Do I have anyone else for F27? All righty. Seeing none, we're going to go ahead and move to F50. F50 is the roofing term bid award, and it is for the micro business enterprise sheltered market, small business enterprise sheltered market, and open market. At this time, again, Mr. Perez, or Mr. Niccolo, this is actually Mr. Niccolo. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much. Do I have any colleagues? Yes. Board Member Alonso, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Very briefly, I've spoken both to Mr. Niccolo as well as Mr. Perez, and Mr. Bueno was with me at a meeting. As we look at these roofing projects, there's new materials that are out there that I think it's important we explore. We're spending a lot of money on re-roofing and repairs sometimes. And what I refer to is the spraying of the – it's a new sort of – polyurethane, thank you, Mr. Moret, who's become an expert now in roofing, where the district could save substantial amount of money, and it comes with very large warranties. Many of the commercial buildings and indu

Thank you, and I just learned something new. The roofing is not in my arenas of expertise. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. You're recognized.

I agree with a member, and the roofs are prettier. They are just prettier to me. I'm with you. I don't need one now. Hopefully I won't. Too expensive. But if I do, I'll call. Okay, thank you. Thank you very much.

Do I have anyone else who wants to comment? Okay, seeing none, we're going to proceed to F80. Okay. F80 is the authorization to approve the prequalification of contractors for educational facilities construction. Mr. Bates, sir?

Do I have any board members that would like to speak on this item? All righty, seeing none, may I have a motion to approve the F items? Move it. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, nay? Seeing none, motion passes. May I have a motion to move the H items to the floor? Move it. All right, do I have a second? Second. All right, all in favor? Aye. Thank you. We have H7. H7 is substance, oh, this is your item, yes. Dr. Bendrels-Meningo, this is your item, so I will let you present it then, ma'am.

Good afternoon, colleagues. This is a very important item to all of us, as we keep saying, so let's just make sure that we do what we must do for all children. It's about reaffirming the education, that education must remain the driving force behind every redevelopment decision involving district-owned property in District 2. We're going to stay there for a second. As our neighborhoods continue to grow and to change, our responsibility is to ensure our students and families benefit from that growth through modern, high-quality public schools. The board has consistently supported the redevelopm

The item. Thank you very much. First, I'll open it up to my colleagues first. Okay. Board Member Geller, sir.

I want to co-sponsor. Is it appropriate for motion for co-sponsorship?

Let me see. Yes, we'll do it in a moment. Let me see if anyone else wants to make a comment. I will before we move for co-sponsorships. I just want to first and foremost take this opportunity to thank our colleague, Dr. Bendros-Meningo. I can personally attest to the fact that you have been advocating for this for so many, so many years, not only here at the school board meetings, but also in front of the Miami-Dade County Commission. You have gone there with parents, members of the community, you have spoken, and you have really done your job as an advocate for those that you represent. With

I'd like to move for co-sponsorship to this. All right. Second.

All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, nay. Seeing none, and now I need a motion to pass the item as amended. So moved. Do I have a second? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, nay. Seeing none, motion passes.

And I'd like to be recorded among the co-sponsors. Thank you, Madam Chair. He wants to do what? He wants to be recorded as his motion. Oh.

So with that, we are now going to proceed to facilities and maintenance comprehensive updates. Mr. Bredeser and Mr. Niccolo. Yes, I'm going to get to it in a moment. Oh, forgive me. I didn't have my glasses. You're absolutely correct. New business comes first, and that's why I need to wear my glasses.

No worries. It'll be very brief, and it's more for just informational purposes. During my briefing, I asked Mr. Buen on the facilities team to provide me with a list of the schools that were under 200 students, so I wanted to provide one to each board member, just so everybody had it. And it goes to our conversations earlier this morning, right, on the cost of running some of these schools. And I was just running... general estimates, and it's important for us to realize this, and I'm hoping maybe staff can continue to help us in educating us through this process, but in using simple tools, an

Yes, thank you very much. And very significant numbers to see all of them. I'm sure we will be working very collaboratively with the superintendent and the team to see what we can do to either enhance and raise the numbers that are shown on the student count or look at other options where we may need to make some tough decisions as we move forward. So now we go to facilities and maintenance comprehensive update, and I have Mr. Niccolo and Mr. Perez both on this one.

Do any of my colleagues have questions related to this? No one? Okay, thank you. We'll move forward. And now we have the Office of Community Partnership, Education, and Business Access, Dr. Linda Amica-Roberts.

Okay, do any of my colleagues have any questions or comments? All right, well, you are very lucky being the last one. Is the game still on? Who won? Oh, okay, interesting. All right, well, can some... Can someone move for this meeting to be adjourned? Do I have a second?