Jane Russo
Superintendent (retired)
Santa Ana USD
$500M facilities improvement program across 64 active school sites — strategic planning, design coordination, and construction management on occupied campuses with minimal disruption to instruction.
Case study
Santa Ana Unified School District
School Leaders supported Santa Ana Unified School District in maximizing the impact of Measure G, a $200 million bond approved by voters in 2008 for school repairs and upgrades. Through strategic planning, the district secured an additional $240.4 million in state matching funds, bringing the total program value to $594.4 million.
- Measure G Bond Program
- $594m
- Value
- $594.4 million (bond and state funding combined)
- Duration
- 2010–2011
Overview
School Leaders is honored to have partnered with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) to manage the Measure G bond program, a transformative initiative aimed at modernizing aging facilities, expanding educational capacity, and enhancing student learning environments. Our comprehensive approach ensured that each project was completed efficiently, aligning with SAUSD's goals for improved functionality and safety. Over the seven-year program (2008–2015), School Leaders collaborated closely with SAUSD to plan and execute a series of facility enhancements. Our involvement encompassed project management, compliance assessments, and strategic planning to ensure that each initiative met the district's standards and state requirements.
Scope of work
- Program Planning: Developed and implemented a Facilities Master Plan aligning bond-funded projects with district priorities and educational goals.
- Project Management: Oversaw construction and modernization projects, including budgeting, scheduling, and ensuring compliance with state and local regulations.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinated with school boards, community groups, and state agencies to secure funding, manage approvals, and maintain transparency.
- Fiscal Stewardship: Managed the bond program budget to maximize funding, ensuring every dollar was spent effectively on enhancing student outcomes.
- Risk Mitigation: Identified and addressed challenges related to construction, scheduling, and funding shortfalls to ensure project success.
Successes
- Leveraged state matching funds to more than double the program’s financial impact.
- Delivered projects on time and within budget, exceeding original voter expectations.
- Improved the quality, safety, and sustainability of facilities for thousands of students and staff.
- Enhanced community trust through transparent communication and visible results.
Challenges
- Coordinating large-scale projects across multiple sites while minimizing disruption to schools.
- Managing inflation and rising construction costs during the program’s duration.
- Ensuring alignment of facilities with rapidly evolving educational standards and technological needs.
Highlights
- Construction of 450 new classrooms to alleviate overcrowding and meet enrollment growth.
- Renovation of 840 classrooms, modernizing learning environments with 21st-century technology
- Installation of 600 Smart Boards, enabling innovative teaching methods district-wide
- Removal of 580 portable classrooms, reclaiming 12 acres of open space for outdoor learning and recreation.
- Completion of 35 additional projects using strategic savings and funding.
Reference for this work
Contact information available on request for active prospects under NDA.
From our team
Perspective on this kind of engagement
40 Years Transforming Schools: Joe Dixon on Building Communities Through Better Facilities
Meet Joe Dixon, founder of School Leaders and a 40-year veteran of transforming educational environments. From starting at the bottom of Capistrano Unified in 1984 to leading Prop 51's passage for California school funding, Joe's journey proves that great schools create great communities — sometimes one lunch table at a time.
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