Middle school modernization pegged at $134 million; trustees press for details on interim housing, soil mitigation and reroof

Julio Bridal, director of maintenance and operations, and Gordon Rogers of AECOM briefed the Mill Valley School Board on Jan. 15 about recent facilities work and plans for summer and middle‑school modernization.

Bridal said Strawberry Point and Tam Valley modernizations are virtually complete and that notices are out to neighbors for a Marin Municipal Water District requirement at Strawberry Point that will run through the end of the month. Old Mill and Park are in design and have been submitted to the Division of the State Architect (DSA) and remain on the schedule pending approvals.

Gordon Rogers presented a financial summary for the Mill Valley Middle School modernization: the packet shows a total estimated project cost of approximately $134,000,000, which Rogers said includes about $96,000,000 for building costs, $20,000,000 set aside for interim housing, $19,000,000 potentially for soil mitigation (which may not be required), and another $19,000,000 in contingencies. Rogers said the team is rigorously trying to define actual needs before releasing funds that depend on the local educational agency's (LEA) determinations.

Trustees questioned play‑structure specifications after a reported wobble at Tam Valley; AECOM representatives said they will have manufacturers evaluate the product lines and determine whether specification changes are needed for future projects. Trustees also pressed staff on a decision to separate reroof work from the modernization scope, which staff said reduces exposure to a 50% modernization threshold and allows a maintenance in‑kind roof replacement without DSA review. Breaking reroofing out as a maintenance project, staff said, would not count toward the 50% limitation.

Board members raised concerns about recent historic flooding and asked whether campus areas had been inspected and photographed. Maintenance and AECOM staff said portions of the blacktop and gym parking had experienced water and that architects prepared maps showing the effect of regrading on FEMA flood‑zone boundaries; staff said they will share those maps and photos with the board.

What trustees asked next: additional details on reroof specifications, an explanation of contingency and mitigation budgets, and a memo on observed flooding, photos and how portables/interim housing would be sited and raised above flood levels. The board indicated bids and interim‑housing agreements will return for review and possible future board action.