Brookside Upper and Lower Schematic Designs

On October 18, 2011, bond staff presented preliminary schematic design to the Board. The Board asked staff to present these drawings to the teachers, parents and community members for further input before returning for Board approval. Additionally, George Baranoff, Bret Joyner, Dr. Marty Powers, and four kindergarten teachers visited recently-modernized Ross Elementary school to observe the morning rush given the location of the kindergarten building and the playground are similar to one of the options being proposed for Brookside Upper.

Field Trip to Ross School District

Community Meetings

The architects and bond staff had meetings with teachers, parents and the community to present schematic designs at each of the elementary school sites.  Additional meetings are scheduled to continue in November and the schematic designs for the elementary schools will come to the Board for approval on November 29, 2011.

Manor's Additional Classroom

Marshal Lee Architects, the District’s Architect of Record, will be assisting with the modular classroom at Manor School. The play structure has already been relocated to make way for the modular classroom which should be in place and ready for students after the winter break.

White Hill Design Plans Approved

On October 18, 2011 the Board approved the Design Development Plans as presented by WRNS Architects.  The approved plans put the project within budget.  The architects will now prepare detailed working drawings and specifications which the Contractor will use to establish actual construction cost and build the project. 

Citizen Oversight Committee Meeting

The Citizen Oversight Committee had its first meeting on October 19th.  The group discussed roles and responsibilities, requested additional information and set the next meeting of February 2012.  Coming soon: The Citizen Oversight Committee will have their own webpage!

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

On October 17, 2011, the District issued a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the White Hill Middle School Proposed Construction.  The notice announced the availability of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, identified where it was available for review and described the project and its location. The notice also specified the tentative date, time and location of the possible approval of the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration. Copies of the Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration were posted at the White Hill Middle School campus, at the District office and on the district website. Copies of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration were provided to the State Clearing House at the Office of Planning and Research and also available for public review at the Ross Valley School District Office.

A community meeting was held to offer an explanation of the document by the District’s CEQA consultant. The public may submit written comments on the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration to be considered.  Bond staff intends to bring the Study with incorporated comments  to the November 29, 2011 Board of Trustees meeting with a recommendation that the Board adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the White Hill Middle School Construction Plan.

For more information about a Mitigated Negative Declaration and the adoption process, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/habcon/ceqa/intrnlproced/neg_dec.html.