County schools get facelifts - Marin IJ - July 22, 2006 - Reporter Nancy Isles Nation

County schools get facelifts
Mairn IJ - August 22, 2006
Nancy Isles Nation

Summary:

Sausalito Marin City: The board recently approved the issuance of $15.9 million in bonds to build a new middle school in Marin City and renovate the Bayside Elementary School in Sausalito. Construction will be financed by a bond measure passed in 2004. Income the district receives under lease agreements with Sausalito will provide an additional $1.3 million for the project, bringing the total to $17.9 million.

Portable classrooms have been moved onto the campus of Bayside to house kindergarten through second-grade students during the renovation, which will be completed by summer 2007.

Complete Story:

Many students returning to Marin schools this week and next will find classrooms and buildings looking better than ever.

School districts have been modernizing campuses, largely with voter-approved bonds and a few government grants, for the past half-dozen years.

"The work that has been done in the schools in our community over the last period of time is phenomenal," said Mary Jane Burke, superintendent of Marin County schools. "This is a tribute to the hard work of the schools and our community to ensure that our children are being educated in environments that are conducive to learning."

Burke said facilities had deteriorated prior to the passage of bond measures.

"Just a few years ago, we found we had ourselves in a position that we had the most dilapidated facilities anywhere," Burke said. "Now we can say our schools are the best in the country."

Here's a look at what's happening across the county:

- Dixie School District: Almost all of the work slated under Dixie's $10 million bond approved by voters five years ago is finished, so this summer's work was minimal, said Superintendent Tom Lohwasser.

The sports field at Miller Creek School was rehabilitated and carpet and tile were replaced in classrooms at all four Dixie schools.

A lighting project was completed with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. at Dixie

Work progress at Bahia Vista School in San Rafael seen in this view from 60 feet up. (IJ photo/Frankie Frost)
School this summer, and a safety path was installed connecting the back of Mary Silveira School to the neighborhood.

- Novato Unified School District: Novato might have been the biggest spender for school improvements this summer.

The district spent $20 million for contracts alone for back-to-school upgrades. The money comes from a $107 million bond passed by voters in 2001.

While each of the district's schools had work done, the major modernization projects were at Hamilton, Olive, Pleasant Valley, San Ramon, San Jose, Sinaloa, Novato and San Marin schools. Improvements included updated classrooms with new cabinets, floors and ceilings.

San Jose Middle School's library and music rooms were modernized. New lockers are being installed at Novato and San Marin high schools and will be ready a few weeks after school starts, according to John Silvestrini, director of facilities, maintenance and operations.

San Ramon School is being completely renovated and some classes will be assigned to portable buildings during construction.

- Lagunitas School District: Both the Lagunitas and San Geronimo Valley schools had new roofs installed this summer. The work was paid for with a state grant and cost $585,000, according to Superintendent Craig Lee.

- Larkspur School District: With about $3.7 million left from the district's 2000 bond measure, Larkspur School District built a new wing at Hall Middle School. Eight new classrooms and several restrooms will help expand the school from a grade six-to-eight middle school to a grade five-to-eight school. The new wing was approved by the district's board in spring 2005.

Superintendent Valerie Pitts said the construction will be completed when students return to school Aug. 29. "There will be no interruption to student instruction time," Pitts said.

- Reed Union School District: For the first time, students at Del Mar School will have a full-size gymnasium. The $6.9 million gym was funded with bonds approved by voters in November 2005. In addition, the bonds paid for upgrades to the athletic fields and science labs.

Prior construction work in the district was financed by a $39 million bond approved in 2001, according to Christine Carter, Reed superintendent.

- Ross School District: The district didn't complete any big projects this summer. Instead, officials are beginning a $15 million renovation paid for by a bond measure approved in June.

- Ross Valley School District: Two classrooms were renovated at Manor School in Fairfax in June.

- San Rafael City Schools: Students will return to an all-new Bahia Vista School when they arrive Wednesday. The new school consists of two, two-story buildings that will accommodate 450 students. Facilities include 20 kindergarten-through-fifth-grade classrooms, a library, technology lab, work room, family center and classroom space for Head Start and Even Start programs. There also is a teachers' lounge and a multipurpose building with kitchen. The campus includes three playground structures.

At Davidson Middle School, the administration building was expanded and classrooms were modernized in 2005-06. Finishing touches were completed this summer.

A synthetic track and artificial turf football field is being installed at Terra Linda High School.

Final improvements will begin this fall at the Hayes Performing Arts Theater at San Rafael High. At Madrone Continuation High School, work is scheduled to begin in the fall and include improvements to the kitchen and cafeteria.

Venetia Valley School, the old Gallinas School, will celebrate its new name and its modernized facilities with a ceremony Sept. 8.

- Sausalito Marin City: The board recently approved the issuance of $15.9 million in bonds to build a new middle school in Marin City and renovate the Bayside Elementary School in Sausalito. Construction will be financed by a bond measure passed in 2004. Income the district receives under lease agreements with Sausalito will provide an additional $1.3 million for the project, bringing the total to $17.9 million.

Portable classrooms have been moved onto the campus of Bayside to house kindergarten through second-grade students during the renovation, which will be completed by summer 2007.

- Tamalpais Union High School District: Work this summer was financed by the district's 2001 bond of $121 million, along with state funds for a total of $140 million. A second $80 million bond approved by voters this year will pay for future projects.

Tamalpais High School will open its new Daniel Caldwell Performing Arts Center later in the year. The 175-seat theater will have a flexible performance space suited for teaching drama, said Sarah Schoening, acting director of facilities modernization. The facility will feature a grid for lighting 20 feet above the stage. Computerized lighting and sound mixing will be installed along with a digitized projection system. "It's just going to be stunning," she said.

Officials are excited about the new construction of Keyser Hall at Tamalpais, scheduled this spring.

In addition, Tamalpais, Redwood and Sir Francis Drake High Schools will get new 25-by-40 meter swimming pools. Construction will begin next summer.