Board directs staff to pursue edge-column fix for Rancho Elementary roof after district briefing

The Novato Unified School District board on Monday directed staff to pursue a structural remediation plan for Rancho Elementary that keeps the existing roof membrane and adds edge-mounted columns and underground mitigation to address joist deflection and roof ponding.

Chief Financial Officer Joshua Braff and architect Trent Summers told the board that 19 classrooms show roof joist deflection and ponding water. Summers outlined four options ranging from a full reroof—estimated at about $10 million—to installing drains (about $600,000) and two alternatives that add beams and columns inside classrooms. Staff recommended option 4, which places columns at the classroom edge and limits intrusion into instructional space. "It—s a good long term fix," staff said, noting the existing roof membrane still has roughly 20–30 years of useful life.

Parents and staff urged caution and clearer communication before a final vote. Rancho teacher Janice Pack, who said she has taught at the school for 29 years, asked trustees to weigh health, safety and long-term disruption to classrooms: "If this was your home, what associated long and short term health, safety, functional, and physical risks and inconveniences ... would you be willing to bear?"

Trustees asked for more detail on mold testing and timeline. Staff said they had performed mold sampling in two leaking classrooms plus one representative classroom per wing and that the full testing report (35 pages) is available at the principal—s office. Staff also told trustees they expect option 4 could be completed over the summer with no classroom displacement. Architect Trent Summers said of the most intrusive option: "We're looking at that taking about a year, from start to finish."

Trustee Gasson moved and Trustee Pickett seconded a motion to direct staff to pursue option 4 and return with detailed budgeting and construction plans; the motion passed with the board's stated affirmative vote (6 trustees; student trustees in favor: 2). Staff said they will bring a full project proposal and mock-up to a future meeting for formal approval before construction begins.

Why this matters: Rancho families and staff said the building is a long-standing community space and pressed the board for transparency on testing, timelines and classroom impacts. The board—s direction moves the district toward a summer construction schedule while preserving much of the existing roof membrane.