CONSTRUCTION CONTROL DEBATED.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SAUGUS - As new construction and modernization projects move forward during the summer break at local high schools and junior highs, school board members question the costs of hiring construction managers over using district staff to supervise projects.

Vanir Construction Management was recently awarded contracts worth $485,400 to oversee the construction of a gymnasium at Rancho Pico Junior High School in Stevenson Ranch, as well as the movement of 12 modular classrooms from the Rancho Pico campus to Rio Norte Junior High in Valencia and other locations throughout the district.

Despite questions asked by members of the board of the William S. Hart Union High School District, Vanir's relationship with the district remains constant.

During a recent meeting, Hart governing board member Steve Sturgeon asked why Vanir was the only firm proposed when others have been brought in to complete projects in the past.

``When Arroyo Seco (Junior High) was in trouble, you didn't go to Vanir, but now you're telling us they're the best?'' he asked. ``Would anyone else have been willing to bid?''

The board president, Dennis King, said that he was having difficulty understanding why the district needed four full-time Vanir staff on the Rancho Pico project. He also said that, for the amount of money Vanir is getting from the district, he wanted Vanir to make reports directly to the board.

On the Rancho Pico projects, Sturgeon pointed out to Michael Otavka, one of two district facilities managers, that ``we could get one or two of you cheaper,'' instead of paying Vanir.

Otavka said that, when problems arose at Arroyo Seco, Vanir was handling problems with synthetic athletic fields installed at the district's high schools and might not have been available.

A check of Vanir's record brought a mixed bag of praise and reservations.

V. Anne Chernock of the Tamalpias School District in Northern California said she was ecstatic about working with Vanir people.

``They have a solid technical reputation and a good sense,'' Chernock said, adding that they were responsive to concerns.

Duane Leiv, director of general services for San Luis Obispo County, said he has been more than satisfied with Vanir work on several large projects, including a new county government center.

Sherilyn Lombas, assistant city manager in Manhattan Beach, said a small group of vocal residents questioned Vanir's accountability as part of overall objection to new development.

In the Pasadena Unified School District, where 50 schools are being modernized, activist Ed Barnham of the Citizens' Oversight Committee said Vanir Vice President Medhi Heydari was asked to leave a project there because of a clash with the district superintendent. Locally, Heydari works directly with Otavka and Rory Livingston, also a facilities manager.

Richard Nicholl, assistant superintendent of the Mount Diablo Unified School District, has been working with Vanir since 1989 and said that his district saved money by replacing some Vanir contracted workers with district employees.

``It's about half the cost if you can find somebody,'' he said. ``They do the exact same work, and we've found blending district workers with their contract workers works very well.''

Using Hart district staff has come up several times at board meetings, but Livingston and Otavka contend that the current state of construction has stretched the available pool of district staff.

Nicholl commended Vanir's planning and cost models for Mount Diablo's various projects, citing the company's in-house financial systems that augmented the district's.

``They do all of our quarterly reports,'' he said. ``We have our own system, but theirs provides additional depth.''

Hart Superintendent Robert Lee called for better communication on new projects, including one for Castaic High School, to be presented Wednesday night. Coming projects will cost significantly more than the $6 million project being debated.

``Within 24 to 36 months, we will be discussing $80 to 90 million worth of projects,'' he said. ``There needs to be more clarity.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com