$50 Million of Bond Money for Crittenden and Graham

A new track and field? Check. Two new auditoriums? Check and check.

Crittenden and Graham Middle Schools are on their way toward getting new facilities after the Mountain View Whisman School District approved last Thursday the allocation of the first $50 million of the $198 million in Measure G bond money district residents voted for last June. Trustees Chris Chiang, Bill Lambert and Ellen Wheeler voted for the recommended project list, while Trustee Steve Nelson abstained. Trustee Phil Palmer was not in attendance.

For the entire priority list, see document alongside photo.

The priority project list arose from the consensus of thousands of community members, parents, students and staff, according to Chief Business Officer Terese McNamme.

Each school site has approximately $25 million set aside for it; however to create parity between the two schools, more funds may go to Crittenden since it doesn't have a track and field like Graham, Superintendent Craig Goldman explained.

During the discussion the trustees questioned the amount of $500,000 in estimated preliminary costs for improvements to the technology and data infrastructure. They felt the amount was too small especially in this environment where the goal should be to enable "every child to have access to streaming video at the same time," Chiang said. Goldman and McNamee acknowledged their concerns and noted that hopefully outside resources would be used to augment the figure.

A group of performance arts students from both schools addressed the trustees requesting not just an auditorium, but also large rehearsal and practice space. In general the trustees were sympathetic, but the approved priority list didn't include rehearsal or practice space. The preliminary costs for auditoriums—at  $6.65 million a piece per school—are the costliest project items.

Also included in the priority list for each school: $5,275,000 for modern, science labs; $1.75 million for physical education improvements, and $1.5 million for restrooms and maintenance.

An additional $1.25 million will be kept in reserves for unexpected costs.

The security of students and staff remained a priority for the trustees as they also approved a total of $650,000 upgrades in locksets, closed-circuit cameras and fencing for the two schools.

With the approved priority list, the district will now direct the architect teams to begin the initial design work. District staff and community members will be invited to provide input throughout the design process. The agreed upon designs will come before the board for approval in August 2013.

More on Mountain View Patch:

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• Mascots of Mountain View and Los Altos Schools: Sculptures by Hardy Jones
• Bullis Won't Suspend Litigation In Order to Meet
• Foothill Opens State-of-the-Art Science Center

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