PROGRESS REPORT ON THE NEW REDWOOD SHORES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

On Friday, 28 August 2009, members of the Measure C School Bond Oversight Committee visited the school construction site on Shearwater Blvd. in Redwood Shores. The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District arranged the visit so all members of the construction team could be represented, including the architectural firm, the construction contractor, the school district on-site inspector and the District Assistant Superintendent of Business Services and Operations. Committee members were able to ask detailed questions as we toured the site and we also had an opportunity to examine the blueprints for all modules, playgrounds, landscaping and parking.

The 5 members present of the 7 member Oversight Committee put on the required hard hats, wore our closed-toed shoes, and walked the entire site with construction team members. We all were impressed and heartened by the progress to date. Construction is about 2 weeks ahead of schedule, and everyone hopes for continuing good weather conditions. Initial construction started in May after weeks of delay awaiting state approvals. The state licensed inspector, hired by the district, is on site daily, observing all contractor activities. To date he states his communication with the construction managers is excellent. He was very complimentary of the cooperative effort and progress made by the construction team.

We toured Building A: 6 completely framed classrooms plus administrative space, with pre-fabbed walls, including wall finishes, and windows already in place. Slabs have been poured for Building B: Learning Center and Library (modules installed last week); Building C: 6 classrooms (modules due September 15/16); Building C1: Multi-Purpose Room, Science/Music Room, small kitchen, and storage(modules due September 29); Buildings D and E: 2 Kindergarten classrooms each (modules due mid-October).

The central hallway of the classroom/admin module is 7 ft. wide and features a high peaked ceiling with windows along the peak and natural wood which give an airy feeling and brings more light into the classrooms. Hallway walls have large bulletin board areas and textured wall coverings. The classrooms are larger than the Sandpiper School classrooms with 2 good-sized outer windows and an outer door, windows around and above the inner door, and a row of high windows into the central hallway. We were shown where the classroom sink and student and teacher storage will be located. The admin area is ample with lots of windows, teacher and staff space and adult bathrooms. Two large child-sized bathrooms are located in the module and two just outside in the next module. Covered walkways will join the modules. No electricity or plumbing fixtures are in yet.

The kindergarten modules will be separately fenced, with their smaller scale play structure located between the two buildings. The larger playgrounds and fields will be toward the front of the site, and 2 more modules with 6 classrooms each can be added as needed. Frontage along Shearwater and the levee behind the school will be landscaped. Walkways curbs and parking lots are currently being installed. Separate traffic entry and exit are planned to facilitate traffic flow. Since our visit, the project is continuing at a rapid pace.

Quite an inspiring visit!

Submitted by Lee Fernandez, Vice Chair, Measure C School Bond Oversight Committee