Carmel Del Mar parents press board for larger multipurpose room, clearer budget on modernization plans

Parents and school leaders pressed the Del Mar Union School District board on April 23 over plans to modernize Carmel Del Mar School, saying the district's preliminary proposal prioritizes an “innovation center” over expanding the school’s multipurpose room and that the community has not seen sufficient budget detail.

The concern centered on trade-offs between keeping the library as the “heart” of the school and reconfiguring that space as a library/innovation center while also expanding the multipurpose room — the space parents said they use for assemblies, performances and community events. “If we had an MUR that fit our school, we could use it in many more ways,” said Monique Wood, the recently elected PTA president of Carmel Del Mar School, during public comment.

School staff presented preliminary cost estimates and limitations. Mr. Delahanty, the district facilities presenter, told the board that Carmel Del Mar’s existing multipurpose room is about 2,800 square feet and that an expansion pushing the wall outward would add roughly 1,000 square feet (to about 3,800 square feet). He said the district’s architects estimate a high variance on that MUR expansion — roughly a $2 million swing — because moving the wall could require structural analysis and related work on adjacent connected buildings that would affect design and cost. The facilities update listed other estimated line items: a Library Innovation Center remodel at about $1.5 million, roofing and HVAC work in the neighborhood of $3.5 million to $4 million, and classroom/learning-studio work in a similar range.

Parents said those high-level numbers should be broken into line items and shared earlier in the community process. “The parent meeting last week was not presented those pictures, and we had no figures presented,” said Parisa Farahi, a Carmel Del Mar parent. Several other parents and PTA leaders echoed requests for a clearer, itemized budget and for more frequent in-person engagement with district staff and architects.

Trustees and staff said they would continue the community conversation while noting constraints. Superintendent Dr. McClurg reminded the board that the Facilities Master Plan and the district’s bond program set priorities across nine schools, and that modernization budgets must balance deferred maintenance, classroom upgrades and larger campus projects. Mr. Delahanty said the district would provide additional information to the Carmel Del Mar community by the end of the week and pledged continued meetings with the architect team to refine the design estimates and study whether the MUR expansion would require Division of the State Architect (DSA) review.

Parents described frequent operational limits at Carmel Del Mar — performances and multicultural events that outgrow available space, PTA-funded sound rentals for shows, and routine classroom activities that currently happen outdoors because of the lack of indoor capacity. PTA leaders said the library is heavily used daily and that a redesign should not reduce book access or the librarian’s ability to provide individualized support. “The library is a place that welcomes kids as they walk through the front door,” said Laurel (last name not provided), a Carmel Del Mar parent.

District staff emphasized there is no final design or contract yet. Mr. Delahanty said the 2018 Facilities Master Plan and subsequent community input inform the work, but that modernization scopes and budgets can change during design. He noted that some line items — roof, HVAC and required ADA or utility work — are commonly included in modernizations because they are part of long‑deferred maintenance identified across sites.

Next steps: staff and the architect are expected to provide more detailed budget breakdowns and renderings and to continue community meetings. The district said additional design work will clarify whether the proposed MUR expansion requires structural design and DSA review — a factor that could materially change schedule and cost.

Community relevance: The discussion directly affects about 550 students at Carmel Del Mar (the district reported a recent enrollment of 556) and PTA-funded programs such as drama and STEAM-Plus elements. Parents and trustees asked for clearer, itemized cost estimates, alternatives to the current concept and a schedule for further community review.

Ending: Board members and staff said they will continue in-person outreach and return to the public with more detailed cost and design information before committing to a final scope. The district’s next steps include additional architect analysis of the MUR expansion and a follow-up update to the community.