By Lookout Staff

October 6, 2015 -- Massetti Consulting, LLC last month began managing the Santa Monica-Malibu School District's bond program under a $420,000 contract for the first year, District officials announced Monday.

The contract, which will be paid using ES bond funds, was approved by the School Board in July and became effective September 1, District officials said. The contract includes two one-year extensions through August 31, 2018 with the amounts yet to be determined.

More than 30 firms submitted proposals under a wide-ranging search conducted with the help of Heery International, an international professional services firm specializing in architecture, engineering and construction management, officials said.

“Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our district team as we move forward with finalizing Measure BB projects, and planning and initiating Measure ES projects,” said District Superintendent Sandra Lyon.

Massetti has more than 17 years experience in civil engineering, construction and program and project management, which includes managing public works facilities construction and improvement programs for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, Santa Barbara City College and Rio Hondo College in Whittier, District officials said.

Massetti – who is a member of the Construction Management Association of America, American Society of Civil Engineers and the United States Green Building Council – also has experience in construction claims resolution and construction project litigation and claims mitigation, officials said.

“I’m very excited to join the SMMUSD team,” Massetti said. “I look forward to working with the Board, District staff, and the community to complete these important projects over the next several years.”

Approved by voters in November 2012, Measure ES authorized the District to issue $385 million in bonds to be used solely for school facilities building and infrastructure improvement.

In February, the School Board approved a staff recommendation to spend $180 million of the total for capital projects at Santa Monica High School, where facilities are badly in need of upgrading, officials said.

Some of the ES money is also expected to cover projects funded through the previous Measure BB bond, a $268 million bond measure approved by voters in 2006, officials said in February. There is an estimated $30 million shortfall on the BB projects.

“We are grateful to the Santa Monica and Malibu communities for approving these two bond measures benefiting all of our students, staff and the communities we serve,” Lyon said.