Board approves split relocation for Valle Lindo during rebuild over community objections
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Summary
Faced with demolition‑and‑rebuild costs and Division of State Architect timelines, the board approved relocating Valle Lindo students to two nearby campuses (Roar and Loma Verde) during a multi‑year modernization project, rejecting families’ pleas to keep the community intact on one site.
The Board of Education approved a plan to relocate Valle Lindo Elementary’s students to two nearby campuses during a planned demolition and rebuild after staff said phasing on site would add millions to costs and extend construction.
Facilities staff explained that bringing the existing circular campus up to current code would require major seismic work that is not cost‑effective compared with a rebuild. Staff presented three relocation options: (1) move the entire program to one receiving school (higher portable costs and longer DSA approval timelines, roughly $6 million in added expense); (2) split classrooms between Roar and Loma Verde (staff recommendation; estimated $1.9 million in portable costs); or (3) split between Roar and Los Altos (similar costs with longer bus routes).
Staff recommended option 2 to minimize added construction expense and to meet the project timeline (target completion July 2028). Trustees asked about DSA portable thresholds, transportation impacts, administrative coverage and how funding would follow students. Mr. Pong said the district would provide two additional bus routes (rerouted service using existing buses) and hire supplementary administrative and supervisory staff as needed.
More than a dozen Valle Lindo parents, teachers and staff urged the board to keep the school community together on a single site during construction; Colleen Smith, a PTO leader, warned that splitting siblings and separating dual‑immersion classes would harm student stability and community cohesion. “Separating students into two sites risks isolating students from their friends or siblings during an already difficult and emotional transition,” she said. Special‑education staff and parents raised concerns about splitting counseling and behavior supports across sites.
After extended public comment and discussion about program integrity, DSA timelines, playground impacts and bond‑fund constraints, the motion to approve the district recommendation — relocating Valle Lindo to Roar and Loma Verde with portables and supports — passed 3‑2. The board directed staff to maximize communication, provide zone‑transfer options, maintain funding to follow students and plan supports for affected families and staff.