News, Notes & Votes | September 22, 2026

Superintendent Jennifer Loftus celebrated last Friday’s Bearcat Institute of Cosmetology ribbon cutting and thanked the community for the strong turnout. Looking ahead, she invited the community to Coffee with the Superintendent this Friday morning, where Assistant Superintendent Brad Pawlowski will join her to discuss the newly approved Facility Master Plan and answer questions.

Ms. Loftus also highlighted Friday night’s PRHS Homecoming football game against Cabrillo and two upcoming ribbon cuttings: the new memorial at War Memorial Stadium on October 2 and the Glen Speck Kitchen and Shade Structure on October 9.

Student Board Member Julia Cox updated Trustees on student life at Paso Robles High School, highlighting a busy start to the fall semester. PRHS recently held its first Club Expo, giving student organizations an opportunity to showcase their activities and recruit new members, along with Senior Sunrise and a week of activities celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

Cox also previewed Homecoming Week, including lunchtime activities, two pep rallies and the “Hocochella” post-game celebration featuring a live band and food trucks. She recognized PRHS fall athletics, including flag football, football, volleyball, water polo, cross country, tennis, cheer, advanced dance, and colorguard, and shared that league competition is well underway. Upcoming student activities include a blood drive and the annual Fall Festival.

The Board approved PRJUSD’s 2030 Vision Facilities Master Plan, the culmination of more than a year of site assessments, planning meetings, community engagement and collaboration with 19six Architects.

The process began alongside the District’s 2025 strategic planning work and included a steering committee, community and school-site meetings, surveys and multiple opportunities for Trustee review. The final package includes:

The plan will serve as the District’s long-range roadmap for providing safe, modern, flexible and welcoming learning environments across PRJUSD campuses.

Assistant Superintendent Brad Pawlowski provided the Board with a comprehensive look back at the development of the PRHS Aquatics Complex, tracing the project from its original design and 2017 approval as a Measure M project through financial challenges, redesign and eventual construction.

The original concept called for a 50-meter competition pool and separate eight-lane warm-up pool, but the project was placed on hold amid District financial challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in 2021–22, the District pursued a redesigned, more efficient concept centered on a single 38-meter pool. Construction began in May 2024 and was completed in March 2026.

The presentation also reviewed the project’s costs. The District had estimated a total project cost of approximately $19.31 million in February 2024; final expenditures were approximately $19.52 million, with the difference attributed primarily to an unforeseen PG&E mainline reroute and related time extensions.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Brad Pawlowski provided an overview of the Measure M Citizens’ Oversight Committee and its work since the passage of Measure M. The committee is responsible for reviewing bond expenditures, reporting to the public and helping ensure bond proceeds are spent in accordance with legal requirements.

The presentation also reviewed the committee’s history, including periods when reports could not be completed because of insufficient membership and the District’s ongoing efforts to recruit community volunteers. In January 2025, the committee presented a report reviewing Measure M expenditures from the bond’s inception through January 2025. A draft 2025–26 report has now been prepared and will be reviewed by the committee at the upcoming meeting on September 23.

With most Measure M projects now complete, the Board began discussing how to prioritize the bond’s remaining funds. To date, 21 Measure M projects have been completed, with one project—Phase 3 at Georgia Brown Dual Immersion—still in progress. As of July 1, approximately $7.18 million in Measure M funding remained.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Brad Pawlowski reviewed remaining projects identified in previous facility plans and assessments, including potential work at Virginia Peterson, Lewis Flamson Junior High, Georgia Brown, Kermit King, Winifred Pifer and Glen Speck. Because several identified needs exceed the remaining Measure M balance, staff discussed opportunities to combine Measure M dollars with other funding sources such as developer fees, one-time carryover and deferred maintenance funds.

The item will return to the Board on October 13 with an action plan based on Trustee direction and discussion.

The Board received an initial look at a proposal for six new tennis courts and additional parking at Paso Robles High School. The existing courts date to approximately 1980 and need resurfacing; their relocation and replacement are also identified as part of Phase 1 of the District’s newly approved Facilities Master Plan.

The proposed facility would include six courts, bleachers and shade structures, sport lighting, a drinking fountain and bottle filler, infrastructure for a future concession area, and an approximately 82-space parking lot. The estimated total project cost is $6.46 million, including approximately $5.42 million in construction costs. 19six Architects has proposed a $429,800 design fee, which will return to the Board for action on October 13.

Construction of the project is contingent upon voter approval of Measure G in the November 2026 election. The District previously approved placing a school facilities bond measure on the November ballot.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maggie Tatman presented a proposed change to the District’s high school science pathway that would preserve Biology in ninth grade and Chemistry in tenth grade while giving students greater choice in their third year of science.

Under the current model, students take Biology, Chemistry and Physics in sequence. The proposed pathway would allow 11th-grade students to choose from courses including Physics, AP sciences, Marine Biology, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, engineering courses, plant science and animal health and reproductive systems.

Ms. Tatman explained that the change would allow students to pursue coursework more closely aligned with their college, career and CTE interests while maintaining access to advanced physics and chemistry options for students pursuing engineering, computer science and other physical sciences.

The Board approved a $129,388.57 project to replace antiquated open shower poles in the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms at Lewis Flamson Junior High and Georgia Brown Dual Immersion with individual privacy shower stalls. The upgrades are designed to modernize the facilities while providing students with more private, defined shower spaces and supporting student privacy, dignity, safety and well-being.

Sierra Schools will complete the work, funded through Deferred Maintenance Fund 14. The District plans to schedule the work during school breaks as production is completed.