Schools Move Toward Construction of New Classrooms

As parents attend back-to-school nights this week, last week, and next, they will see preliminary site plans for the new construction at the schools (except for ). But, when exactly, are all these new classrooms coming to their kids’ school?

A preliminary timeline developed by the district, seen at right, has construction starting first at at the beginning of summer 2012. Because White Hill is the most impacted by the increased number of students, construction isn’t scheduled to start at the elementary schools until early 2014.

The RVSD Board did approve on Tuesday night, however, an interim classroom being built at immediately due to an increase in enrollment pushing the before/after program into the multi-purpose room to make space for an additional second grade class.

The rest of the construction will come in future years.

“We are still on the schedule that was developed after the bond measure was passed by voter,” said Superintendent Eileen Rohan.

That schedule means that even though no construction took place this summer, there was still lots of work to be done.

Over the summer, geographical investigation and survey work was completed. Architects were hired for each of the sites and, in June, the board approved a two-story schematic design for White Hill after public input meetings where held at the school.

In May, the board also approved changes to the improvements at each site based on the final boundaries. Manor and Lower would each get an additional classroom, while Upper would get two less (four classrooms as opposed to six).  The Marin County Office of Education space would also move from Wade Thomas to Upper, giving Wade Thomas an additional classroom space.

Not everything is decided, though. In fact, many things are left to be determined.

“Now that school is back in session, the process of locating the additional classrooms will be presented to parents, discussed with staff and then presented to the board for further discussion and approval,” said Rohan.

The elementary schools are in the preliminary design page, which means site councils at each school are considering where the new classrooms will be located and what additional issues each school faces. White Hill is in the design development stage, since it will be the first under construction, so building locations, room sizes and features have largely been determined.

In May, the first series of bonds were sold for $10 million from the The district still expects the construction to come in under the $50 million budget.

“The budget, as always seems to be the case in our, world is tight, but considered to be achievable,” said Rohan.

As work progresses, you can get all the updates on the facilities page on the district’s website.