Plans move ahead for expanding Menlo Park school district office Plans move ahead for expanding Menlo Park school district office (December 24, 2003)

** Construction could begin in May.

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

Trustees of the Menlo Park City School District have given architects the go-ahead to develop construction drawings for an addition to and renovation of the district's office, housed in a former kindergarten building on the Encinal School site in Atherton.

The project would nearly double the size of the office to 4,470 square feet. It would provide space for the business office, a conference/training room that also will be used as a board meeting room, and other offices.

The plans include a new entry lobby, restrooms and a small conference room, plus additional parking. A workroom, file-storage area and kitchen will be enlarged and relocated.

A feature of the one-story stucco building is a redesigned and taller entry.

Construction could begin in May and extend to late October, said Superintendent Ken Ranella. He is working on a plan to lease space for the office staff during construction or to bring a portable building on the site.

The probable total cost of the project is $978,000, said architect Paul Bunton of Bunton Clifford Associates in Fremont. He presented proposed plans at the December 8 school board meeting.

Mr. Ranella said money for the project would come from several capital facility funds that can be spent on construction only. For the new construction, he anticipates using $526,792 from a special reserve fund that was acquired about 20 years ago when the district sold the former district office property, known as the Glenwood site.

Money for renovation work would come from the district's deferred maintenance fund of $756,444 and other legally restricted maintenance accounts, said Mr. Ranella. Approximately $100,000 from the remaining $1.25 million of the general obligation bond fund may be used only for parking, access, landscaping and site improvements.

"The plans look great, but I'm choking on the price," said Trustee Nancy Serrurier.

The project would provide office space comparable in quality to that at the district's four schools -- Laurel, Encinal, Oak Knoll and Hillview. Those offices were renovated with funds from the $22 million bond measure, passed by voters in 1995.

Mr. Ranella said there will be costs for asbestos removal and some unknowns because there are often hidden costs in renovating an old building.

"It's hard to imagine we could do better," said Trustee Terry Thygesen. Expanding and renovating the district office, she said, "does rise to the level of one of the most important things we do."

The current office space at Encinal was remodeled in the late 1980s when a single district-wide middle school was formed at Hillview; to provide more space at Hillview, the district office was moved to the extra classroom space at Encinal.

A checkpoint on the project will be when the plans are approved by the Office of the State Architect.

Community members may preview the architectural renderings of the new office and floor plan that will be posted in the district office, 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton, beginning January 5 after the winter break.

E-mail Marjorie Mader at mmader@AlmanacNews.com

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