Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Design topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mill Valley district advances two‑story schematic for middle school; Board to review plans and costs in July
Summary
District architects presented a two‑story design for Mill Valley Middle School that preserves grade‑level pods, dedicated arts and science spaces and a single‑point security entry; the schematic and updated cost estimates will go to the Board in July ahead of state review.
The Mill Valley School District presented a two‑story schematic for the rebuilt Mill Valley Middle School at a June 10 community meeting, saying the option preserves the most open campus space while organizing classrooms in grade‑level "pods." Julio Royal, director of maintenance operations and safety for the district, opened the meeting and introduced the project team.
Lauren, an architect with Lonas who led the schematic presentation, said the steering committee and the Board favored "option one" because it "provided the greatest amount of open space for students on campus." The proposed plan places three identical two‑story classroom buildings (one pod per grade level), a ground‑floor administrative and wellness hub, a 2,000‑square‑foot library, and a separate performing and fine arts building with shared practice and kiln space.
Designers said each pod would group roughly five classrooms around a central collaboration area with two adjacent science labs and that outdoor learning spaces would be provided on all floors so that multi‑level classrooms are not deprived of exterior instructional spaces. The team also described a single controlled point of entry and perimeter fencing to balance security and community access.
Project staff said the district will present the schematic design package and updated cost estimates to the Board of Trustees at a special meeting in July and that facility‑subcommittee meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks to refine the drawings. They emphasized that the schematic review and cost estimates are intended to precede submission of documents to the State for review.
The district said the interim, temporary campus is being designed so students can occupy portables for the 2025–26 school year while the permanent campus is built; officials said construction sequencing and permitting activity is expected to begin in 2025 with a target for overall completion around 2027.
Why this matters: The schematic phase sets the boundaries for what the district will ask regulators to analyze in the environmental review and shapes cost estimates that will determine whether the bond measure budget, project scope and schedule remain feasible. Parents and community members said they want further detail about noise control, access and student supports during the temporary‑housing period.
What’s next: The district will share updated cost estimates and the schematic design with the Board in July and proceed with environmental review and permitting work once the Board and state reviewers have accepted the package.
