The Ross Valley School District Board hired the following firms to provide architectural planning and design services for the new construction at White Hill Middle School.
WRNS Studio
WRNS Studio is providing architectural planning and design services for the new construction of White Hill Middle School.
QKA
QKA will provide architectural planning and design services for the new construction of Hidden Valley and Brookside.
White Hill Middle School is currently under construction and the District expects accept the new classroom buildings as completed in late-October 2013 and occupy them in November 2013. The District and Architects conducted meetings with staff, parents and community members to solicit input on all four elementary school sites. Based on this input, the architects have developed the preliminary elementary school plans below.
The pre-design plans for Brookside Elementary were moved to the Schematic Design Phase. The work for this project, which includes five classrooms, a new Multipurpose Room and some hardscape modifications, has been split into two phases. The first phase, which is currently in design development, includes the construction of 5 new classrooms. This project will use modular classroom buildings that are expected to be ready for student occupancy for the 2014-2015 school year. The new multi-purpose building is in the project's second phase. A timeline for the second phase will be set after the sale of the next series of bonds.
Brookside Lower Approved Pre-Design - 1/10/2012
The plans for Hidden Valley Elementary were advanced to the Schematic Design Phase and preliminary cost estimates have indicated that further review is necessary to determine the feasibility of implementing the Schematic Design. The District has temporarily reduced the design effort for this campus and a revised plan will be discussed following the sale of the next series of bonds.
Construction of the kindergarten play area at Hidden Valley Elementary School began on June 08, 2012 and was successfully completed approximately July 13, 2012. The students were able to enjoy the new play area at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
Hidden Valley Approved Pre-Design - 1/10/2012
The Board of Trustees (BOT) approved pre-design plans for Manor Elementary have advanced to the Schematic Design Phase and preliminary cost estimates indicate that further review is necessary to determine the feasibility of implementing the Schematic Design. The design for this campus has changed and further work awaits the results of the Board of Trustees decision regarding the possible relocation of the Multi-Age Program currently located at Manor.
Manor Approved Option E - 1/10/2012
The pre-design plans for Wade Thomas Elementary were advanced to the Schematic Design Phase and preliminary cost estimates indicate that further review is necessary to determine the feasibility of implementing the Schematic Design. Further design work on this campus is currently in a holding pattern pending the sale of the next series of bonds and the outcome of the decision regarding the location of the Multi-Age Program.
Wade Thomas Approved Option C - 1/10/201
White Hill Middle School
On May 24th, the Board of Trustees approved a staff-recommended change in the number of new classrooms to be built on each elementary campus. Given the results of the boundary study, a proposal had been introduced to increase by one the number of proposed classrooms at Manor and Brookside Lower with a corresponding decrease of new classrooms at Brookside Upper. Staff met with school site staff and architects and determined that this change was feasible. This decision will allow the architects to proceed with schematic drawings for elementary campuses. Revised number of classrooms are as follows:
The Superintendent, Bond Team, White Hill Principal and key teachers visited Tam High School and American Canyon High School on May 24th to get a first-hand look at innovative classrooms that demonstrate flexibility and current use of technology. The purpose of this visit was to provide further inspiration to development of the White Hill vision for new facilities. American Canyon High School also illustrates use of small learning communities.
On May 3rd, the Board of Trustees approved the staffâs recommendation to establish the Bond Program Manager position to provide oversight and implementation of all bond projects related to Measure A. Through review and analysis of other school districts in and out of Marin County, it is relevant and cost effective to the District to have this as a regular position of the District vs. hiring an independent contractor.
In the month of May, the first series of bonds were sold for $10 million. This money will go towards beginning construction at White Hill and planning at elementary schools.
The Board of Trustees approved the superintendentâs recommendation for the following individuals for the Citizenâs Oversight Committee. One vacancy has yet to be filled. If interested in joining the committee, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Trevor Hughes (School: Manor â Past)
David Metz (School: Wade Thomas)
Stuart R. Brunet (School: None)
Mark Chedekel (School: Manor/White Hill)
Benedetto Cico (School: Brookside Upper/White Hill)
Conn Hickey
The Board of Trustees approved George Baranoff, Bond Program Manager, to issue Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Lease-Leaseback Services for bond projects at White Hill Middle School. Given the extensive and complex projects planned on this campus, this method of delivery will allow for a single point of contact to help streamline communications, centralize coordination and site access, and will improve the effort to minimize impact to curriculum and disruption to the surrounding community.
Additionally, the Lease-Leaseback will be able to better evaluate the plans and specifications in advance of pricing and, therefore, potential change orders may be discovered and resolved early in the schedule. This provides value engineering opportunities during Guaranteed Maximum Price negotiations and reduces change orders over the life of the contract.
Using the Lease-Leaseback method, qualification statements will be solicited in a Request for Qualifications. Respondents will be screened and interviews will be conducted with candidates selected on the basis of criteria in the RFQ. The criteria for selection of the Developer/Builder will include specific experience, performance record and available resources.
The Ross Valley School District held two public meetings on June 27th to acquire community input regarding the Schematic Design for White Hill Middle School. WRNS architects, hired to provide architectural services for projects at White Hill, presented a series of schematics drawings which showed the general arrangement of the buildings and functions on the site. The schematics showed all the major improvements planned including the placement of the gym/multi- purpose building that is scheduled to be constructed in the final phase pending state funding. Parents, teachers, and community members attended.
Schematic Design Plans were displayed at Back to School Nights for parents and staff to view and provide comments to the Bond Construction Department. These are preliminary drawings and have yet to be approved by the board. Ideas for location of additional classrooms were generated at meetings held at each site including the staff, bond team and architect. These meetings will continue throughout the planning process.
Additionally, the Board of trustees approved moving forward with a modular classroom at Manor to accommodate increased enrollment. The playground structure will be relocated slightly east to provide the necessary space. Two additional classrooms are planned at this campus to be constructed in 2014.
The Bond Construction team will give an update at the October 11th Board meeting regarding progress at developing options for bringing the White Hill project in budget per Board direction. The ongoing development of these options has been a collaborative effort including White Hill staff, the bond team and the architect. The Board will vote on the design development plan at the October 18th meeting
The Board has selected Plant Construction to be the developer on the White Hill project subject to negotiation.
The Citizen Oversight Committee is scheduled to meet on October 19, 2011. At the first meeting, the committee will review roles and responsibilities and the Bond Program budget.