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Board approves design-development direction for middle-school modernization, targets Jan. 2029 occupancy
Summary
The Mill Valley Twin District board approved advancing design development for the middle-school modernization with scope reductions to address cost escalation, prioritizing mandatory code items and setting a target occupancy date of January 2029.
The Mill Valley Twin District Board of Trustees voted to approve design-development direction for the middle-school modernization and directed staff and the consultant team to pursue the fastest feasible construction timeline, targeting occupancy in January 2029.
The project team presented 100% design-development materials and a fly-through of the proposed campus changes, including a new entry canopy, an amphitheater, larger science labs and a relocated Panther Cafe. The presenter said the team had reconciled contractor estimates and identified "a contingency of about $19,000,000 that was in reserve for the soil mitigation and soil disposal," and reported a variance of nearly $15,000,000 in overall costs. The design team recommended scope reductions for Building A — retaining most existing exterior windows and siding while adding highlight siding at entry points — as a way to realize approximately $10,000,000 in savings and to stay within the 50% replacement-value threshold used by the state architect.
Trustee Sharon Navitani asked about condensation risks with the new mechanical system; a technical team member said a follow-up dew-point analysis had raised confidence that condensation would not be an issue but that the team would validate that finding with an envelope consultant in the next phase. The presenter also cited a West-side elevator estimate of about $1,200,000, tying path-of-travel work to classroom reconfiguration and relocation of science labs.
Board members debated displacement trade-offs for programs such as orchestra and physical education, and discussed sequencing options (including summer work and leaving some portables in place to house displaced programs). Ultimately the board approved the recommended design-development direction and asked the team to return with refined 50% construction‑documents and budget recommendations; the motion passed on a roll-call voice vote with members recorded as voting 'Aye.'
The board also instructed staff to pursue state-architect relief to raise the 50% replacement-value threshold where possible and to continue cost-reduction work so that more scope choices might be restored at later milestones.
