District updates: Berkman Valley elementary progress, middle school addition and draft elementary boundaries for fall 2026

Superintendent Larson updated the board on capital projects and elementary boundaries at the meeting, reporting construction progress and sharing a draft boundary plan for the fall 2026 school year.

Larson said exterior foundations for Berkman Valley Elementary are complete and interior foundation and enclosure work is underway, with HVAC, plumbing and electrical work progressing. "The community room is nearly entirely enclosed," Larson said, and the district currently expects a June 2026 project completion date so the school can open in fall 2026.

The board was also briefed on the Brandon Valley Middle School addition: the district awarded the contract at a previous meeting to the low bidder, Visions Construction, and a pre-construction meeting was scheduled for the week of the board meeting. Larson said families would receive updates and the district would use a construction website with photos and floor plans to communicate timelines and transitions, with mobilization expected in late April or early May and completion targeted for fall 2026.

Larson noted a Sunshine Avenue construction item was on the agenda in the form of an approval and notice to proceed; the work will be coordinated with paving at a nearby elementary site. He also reported that the Highway 42 bridge project timeline is delayed and dependent on federal approvals; if bidding goes forward in October, a closure could occur in February or March, but the timing remains uncertain.

On boundaries, Larson presented draft elementary attendance boundaries for fall 2026 tied to the opening of Berkman Valley Elementary and said the map would be brought back for formal adoption in the coming months. He said the draft is intended to be straightforward and that the district would work through any concerns or appeals raised by residents before final adoption.