Hayward Unified School District

Hayward Unified School District

Overview

The Hayward Unified School District (“HUSD”) now offers award-winning visual and performing arts programs, career pathways, and dual language immersion programs. The district is composed of over 20 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, an alternative high school, an adult education center, an English learning center, and a child care center for preschoolers. HUSD has an enrollment of more 20,000 students from preschool through high school. 

Vision

HUSD wanted to create a state of the art learning environment. While HUSD Administration worked to develop the academic vision for what a standard Hayward school should provide, the Design Team worked to prioritize how projects could be sequenced. This was important because although the majority of Hayward schools are 50+ years old, it is not realistic to renovate/rebuild all of them at once. The priorities were established which allowed for strategic evaluation of all sites. This would help determine how to most equitably sequence projects and still allow for all sites to receive some improvements.

Challenge

HUSD needed to develop secure income streams to increase revenues because they were facing declining enrollment and continual budget cuts. HUSD wanted to secure a second Improvement Bond. HUSB sought opportunities for community partnerships with the City, Park District and County.

Solution

Cerro Vista Land & Development (“CVL&D”) listened to HUSB and gained a full understanding of HUSB’s vision, ultimately leading HUSD through the Request for Proposal (“RFP”) process, and effectively solicited a RFP for evaluation of their assets. Sixteen sites were identified in the RFP, and focused on potential long-term leases of pre-selected schools. CVL&D conducted extensive analysis of each of the sixteen sites identified in the RFP that included, but not limited to, alternative land uses, highest and best use, stakeholder and policy leader engagement, market valuation, disposition strategies and preferred land use and property recommendations. CVL&D was then able to recommend five of sixteen properties for further review, and carried out thorough investigation and engagement with other project consultants for each of the five properties. CVL&D also performed exhaustive analysis and highly detailed review for each of the five properties, allowing for recommend strategies that best met those objectives as detailed in the original RFP and HUSB’s vision.

Pursuant to recent state legislation, HUSB was allowed to use one-time funds realized through the sale of surplus assets in a General Fund. CVL&D identified opportunities for HUSB to use and/or obtain these funds through potential land trades, partnerships or sale of assets. The financial benefits of trading, leasing and/or selling underutilized assets enabled HUSB to meet their goals.

The district elected a new Superintendent during the project. CVL&D recognized the value of the relationship with the new Superintendent and facilitated the involvement of the new Superintendent in the project by adjusting deadlines. The new relationship fostered support of the Board and other Key Stakeholders. While collaboratively working with the new Superintendent to meet broader organizational goals, CVL&D was able to facilitate work with the City, Park District and County to develop key community partnerships.

Outcome

HUSB constructed of a new school and provided significant renovation of five others consistent with their vision. HUSB successfully passed a bond that allowed the project to be funded. HUSB also recognized the need to update their Demographic Studies and Facility Master Plan. HUSB established, maintained and grew relationships with the City, Park District and County. These relationships garnered their support for other goals.

Property Address

Sixteen HUSD sites

20,000 students from preschool through high school