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Facilities Advisory Committee

Facilities Advisory Committee

The Facilities Advisory Committee, officially known as the Surplus Properties Advisory Committee and sometimes called a 7-11 Committee, is a state-required committee appointed by the Board of Trustees to advise them in the disposition of school properties that are no longer needed for school purposes.

 

The Novato Unified School District logo features a colorful, stylized group of people.

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What is the Facilities Advisory Committee?

The Facilities Advisory Committee or the Surplus Properties Advisory Committee (Committee) is the first step in declaring that property is no longer needed for school purposes. Before the lease or sale of excess real property, the state requires a district advisory committee to be appointed to advise the Board of Trustees in the disposition of school properties that are no longer needed for school purposes.

The Committee plays a vital role in recommending to the Board of Trustees whether any of the District’s properties can be declared surplus. This Committee serves only in an advisory role to the NUSD Board of Trustees, who will make the final determination. All Committee meetings will be open to the public, and minutes and recordings will be posted on this webpage.

NUSD is forming a Surplus Properties Advisory Committee as part of its Education Workforce Housing initiative, a strategic priority for the Novato Unified School District (NUSD). As it is essential to attract and retain high-quality teachers and support staff, NUSD is exploring the possibility of providing affordable workforce housing. By providing workforce housing locally, NUSD will increase its support of employee well-being, reduce staff shortages, and enhance educational stability and diversity. This initiative also strengthens the connection between district staff and the Novato community, benefiting students and families through improved consistency and quality of education.

To accomplish this goal, NUSD will need to decide which properties are best suited to support the development of the Education Workforce Housing.

Per California law (Education Code sec. 17389), the Committee must have between seven (7) and eleven (11) members. The composition of the committee should reflect the following:

  • A cross-section of the district’s ethnic, age group, and socioeconomic diversity.
  • The business community, such as store owners or managers.
  • Landowners or renters, with preference given to neighborhood association members.
  • Teachers and administrators.
  • Parents of students.
  • Individuals with expertise in environmental impact, legal contracts, building codes, or land use planning, including knowledge of local zoning laws.


For questions regarding the committee process, contact Derek Knell, Director of Staff Housing Development, at [email protected].

  • Those interested in joining the committee must submit an application by 5:00 PM on November 15, 2024. The committee’s anticipated timeline includes four to five sessions from January through March 2025, held at the NUSD District Office. You can find the application here in English and Spanish.

    • Information on Conflict of Interest Laws can be found here in English and Spanish.

  • All meetings are from 6:00pm- 8:00pm at the NUSD District Office in the Board Room – 1015 7th Street, Novato, California.

    The Agenda is linked to the Meeting Date.

  • Remote options for viewing the meetings are broadcast on NUSD’s YouTube Channel

  • Individuals may address the Surplus Properties Facilities Advisory Committee on agenda items at the time they are under consideration. At a time so designated on the agenda, individuals may address the Committee on non-agenda items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Surplus Properties Facilities Advisory Committee.

    Individual speakers will be allowed three minutes to address the Committee on each agenda or non-agenda item, with a total time limit of 20 minutes for each item. However, in exceptional circumstances, when necessary to ensure full opportunity for public input, the Committee Chairperson may, with a majority of the members present, consent to adjust the amount of time allowed for public input and/or the time allotted for each speaker. (Board Bylaw 9323)

    Persons wishing to be heard by the Surplus Properties Facilities Advisory Committee must complete and submit an individual Request for Public Comment form.