State Announces Effort to Fast-Track Plan Review for ‘Shovel-Ready’ School Construction
Budget Crisis Won’t Hold up Projects Already Funded

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Emphasizing a commitment to moving school construction forward, the Division of the State Architect (DSA), which provides design and construction oversight for K–12 schools and community colleges, today announced it will give top priority to reviewing school design plans that do not require state funding.

“The availability of federal economic stimulus funds coupled with local school bond approvals creates an opportunity to advance ‘shovel-ready’ school construction projects,” said State Architect David Thorman. “Because state bond proceeds for school construction funds are likely to be impacted for many months, it is imperative that we remove any barriers for projects that don’t require state funding.”

The fast-track reviews apply to projects that:

• Are ready to proceed to construction within 75 days from receiving stamped, approved documents from DSA; and
• Are capable of financing the construction costs entirely from district and local sources and will not seek state funds.

To accomplish this, a strike team has been assembled to review and approve plans for these projects out of order, essentially moving them to the front of the line.

“We will continue to process all other submissions on the normal ‘first in-first out’ basis,” said Thorman. “This new category of project approval will be in effect until California is on better fiscal footing. However, this action means facilities that don’t need financial contributions from the state don’t have to wait to break ground,” he said.

DSA is a division within the Department of General Services. Its primary role in state government is to ensure that California's K-12 schools and community colleges meet building codes, are seismically safe and accessible to all. Working closely with designers and school districts, it fulfills this role by reviewing construction project plans for structural safety, fire and life safety, and accessibility for disabled persons. The division typically reviews about 4,000 project plans each year.