School officials have their first look at potential designs for an outdoor educational landscape on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy won in Sausalito.
The project consultant held a presentation during the Sausalito Marin City School District Board on Thursday. A key component of the project is to increase the Willow Creek from the surface.
“I am so excited about this stream and the amphitheater plans,” said Amy Hale, the school's new headmaster, at the board meeting. “It will be a beautiful campus.”
The presentation was presented by hydrologists Christopher Wolemade and architect as long as Guillaume from the ecology company Prunuske Chatham Inc. They outlined three potential conceptual plans.
The trustees agreed to make a decision at their board meeting on August 21. In the meantime, teachers and other stakeholders are brought into the loop, said Laresha Huffman, the district superintendent.
“I also have concerns about liability and have to consult our insurer before the board makes decisions,” said Huffman.
It is details whether a small or a large amphitheater outdoors are included for student courses and potential public events, said Huffman. In addition, trustees must decide whether they should bring 700 feet of the stream over the ground or extend the exposure of 900 feet.
The stream is usually only 2 or 3 inches deep and about 2 feet wide, but it could expand and increase in severe floods, said Huffman.
It is also about whether a certain building pad area should leave free if the space is ever needed for more classrooms.
The district received a grant of 3 million US dollars from the Environmental Protection Agency for the Creek increase. If more funds are needed, local environmental organizations such as Friends of Willow Creek can occur, said Steve Moore, the group's head.
“We have most of the financing in our hands to build the stream,” said Moore on Friday. “We encourage the board to further develop the draft process. Your continued progress and support will make our project competitive in order to obtain the necessary additional means in the event of a funding.”
The Creek project is part of the general renovation work of the district on the Sausalito campus. The upgrades also include the construction of a new primary school.
Jason Cave, project manager at Greystone West Inc., said that he expects school construction to be held by the end of this year. The time for the occupancy must be decided by the district, but it could happen during the middle of winter or spring holidays, he said.
School construction is financed by the proceeds from the measurement of 41.6 million US dollars approved by the districts in 2020.
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