Voters endorse changes in Woodside School campus Voters endorse changes in Woodside School campus (November 16, 2005)

** Now the question: Is $12 million enough?

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

Playing fields made of the latest in artificial turf may be coming to the campus of Woodside Elementary School as one component of a $12 million -- possibly $13 million -- upgrade to the school site that voters approved by a wide margin in the November 8 election.

Measure D, a $12 million school construction bond, needed a 55 percent majority to pass; the tally was 850 votes in favor, or 68 percent, and 397 votes opposed, or 32 percent.

The proposed project includes the removal of 21,400 square feet of old construction -- including 17 aging portable classrooms -- and the addition of 20,650 square feet in new construction in eight one-story structures, including 14 classrooms, a new band room, a computer lab, a new administration building and a community room.

Under the plan, the field now used for recess and small-kids soccer would become a full-size soccer field with running track and a new playground nearby.

The question of whether to spend an extra $400,000 on artificial turf came up at the November 10 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Woodside Elementary School District. Project architect Carter J. Warr of Portola Valley gave a presentation that included a virtual reality tour of the project's conceptual design.

The question goes to the heart of the project's financing. As designed, the estimated cost is $11.8 million, said Mr. Warr. But a list of six "expansion opportunities" that include enlarging the music classroom and the community meeting room complex would raise the cost to $13 million.

Built-in reserves of $470,000 for contingencies and $470,000 for cost escalation could help cover the extra expense, said Mr. Warr.

Not so fast, said Trustee Lori Livingston. "I think we have to have a contingency and rethink what is the icing and what is the cake," she said. "We need you all to re-look and come back with a $12 million project and not a $13 million project."

In seeking the extra funds, the district may turn to the Woodside School Foundation, which annually contributes a significant portion of the district's budget. In the 2004-05 school year, the foundation gave $1.5 million, a full 25 percent of the budget.

To build the school's gym, completed in 2002, the foundation raised $7.5 million in donations after voters rejected a $10.2 million bond measure in 1998.

Ms. Livingston urged her colleagues to move quickly in light of plans to break ground next summer. Board president Bettina Pike said the conversation with the foundation has already begun.

The board may decide on which project elements to include at its next meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 13.

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