A revised site plan for Oak Knoll School will be presented at a parent and community meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the school library, 1895 Oak Knoll Lane in Menlo Park.
Community members will have an opportunity to review the new site plan and building configuration, raise questions, and share thoughts or ideas with district planners before they make a recommendation to the school board at its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11.
The revised plan was designed to meet the needs of the K-5 school while addressing concerns expressed by neighbors and community members at three previous public meetings.
Key features of the new plan include:
• Separate the classroom and multipurpose buildings to reduce the mass of the previously proposed combined building. The two buildings would face a central courtyard and be connected by a second-story bridge. Added would be 10 new classrooms for fourth- and fifth-graders; spaces for art, music and a kitchen; and a new multipurpose building with a stage. The buildings would face the interior of the existing school to reduce the impact from the building mass on neighboring residences.
• Retain the heritage oak tree to enhance the buildings and the site.
• Improve drop-off and pick-up circulation, increase field space, provide additional parking.
• Maintain the current easement along Vine Street.
“All the input we have received from the Oak Knoll site committee, parents and neighbors has resulted in a better plan for the neighbors and the school,” said Superintendent Ken Ranella.
People may provide comments by sending an e-mail to the district’s facility and project manager Ahmad Sheikholeslami at ahmad@mpcsd.org.
Neighbors have objected primarily to the massiveness of the combined multipurpose and two-story classroom building near neighboring residences; the relocation of the play area for younger children; increased traffic; and fewer parking spaces. They also wanted to maximize the field and playground area at the southern part of the campus.
The revised Oak Knoll plan is part of the district’s strategic planning process to expand facilities at all four schools to meet the needs of a growing enrollment. Funding comes from the $91.1 million bond measure, supported by voters in June 2006.
Oak Knoll School is at 1895 Oak Knoll Lane in Menlo Park.
For more information, check the district’s Web site: http://mpcsd.org/bond_primaries.html .
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