On August 13, the Oakland Board of Education will vote on the proposed construction plan for Glenview Elementary, which features: • Retention of iconic art deco facade and cascading stairs at the corner of Hampel and La Cresta • Newly constructed 21st Century learning facilities and cafeteria • ADA compliance to allow equal access to the resources at Glenview Elementary for all members of the community • Seismically-sound buildings to ensure the safety of children and staff • Modern and efficient plumbing, electric HVAC, and WiFi systems See the plans at ousd.k12. ca.us/glenviewconstruction Moving Ahead with Hybrid Plan for Glenview Reconstruction Collaboration and compromise yield a path forward In its regular meeting on August 13, the Oakland Board of Education will decide whether to approve the proposed construction project for Glenview Elementary School. As part of this determination, the Board will decide if the project is “categorically exempt” from the CEQA process based upon the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities as minor additions to existing schools. The Board vote has the potential to push the project past the conceptual phase and bring the school community closer to the day when a substantially new facility exists on the present site. This is a significant opportunity, given that the movement to improve Glenview’s facilities represents nearly a decade of advocacy by parents and staff. Glenview families have lobbied for reconstruction of the campus for years in order to make the building safer and to create more usable space for student enrichment. Progress was stymied by debate over the relative merits of a completely new structure versus those presented by a building that retains signature features of the current school, most notably its art deco façade. This debate prompted OUSD to explore the idea of a compromise that preserves notable elements of the existing building while creating a modern school environment that address the concerns of Glenview students, parents, and staff. After meeting with members of the Oakland Heritage Alliance (OHA), the Art Deco society, and architects specializing in preservation, the project architects have proposed a design that saves the main entry and façade at Glenview, while replacing the rest of the site with a brand new structure. Subsequent study shows that this is a viable option that allows OUSD to meet safety, programmatic and compliance requirements for a new site that protects and serves students well. The Glenview Plan promises a first-class educational facility that retains aesthetic features valued by preservationists As a school district, OUSD has many obligations to its different constituencies. First among them, however, is the creation of safe, nurturing, and stimulating schools that provide opportunities for academic development and social growth for all students. The plan successfully addresses community concerns about: • Seismic safety. Despite its age and proximity to the Hayward Fault, the structure has not been tested by a major temblor on the nearby Hayward Fault. • Access for the very young, the elderly and the disabled. The buildings now on site do not meet ADA requirements or current California Ed Code standards. • Sufficient cafeteria space. Currently students must eat in brief shifts. • Modern plumbing, electric, WiFi, and HVAC systems. Existing systems are inadequate and in difficult to maintain because of age. Although there have been inaccurate reports that a renovation of existing facilities would be less expensive than the proposed reconstruction, the reported figures do not include modernizing plumbing, electric, WiFi, and HVAC systems. Nor would those renovation plans provide classrooms sized to meet current Ed Code standards. The Glenview Plan promises a top-rank, modern facility that serves students and staff while providing lessons in architecture, history, compromise, and democracy. This is not an opportunity we can afford to miss! What’s Next? • Oakland Board of Education meeting, August 13. • Regular committee meetings (which include two neighborhood representatives) will resume with the start of the school year, as will regular website updates at glenviewelementary.org • Stay tuned for news about community meetings this fall. Contact Glenview Reconstruction Project Manager: William Newby [email protected] OUSD Director of Communications: Troy Flint What’s New? On August 13, the Oakland Board of Education will vote on the proposed construction plan for Glenview Elementary, which features: • Retention of iconic art deco facade and cascading stairs at the corner of Hampel and La Cresta • Newly constructed 21st Century learning facilities and cafeteria • ADA compliance to allow equal access to the resources at Glenview Elementary for all members of the community • Seismically-sound buildings to ensure the safety of children and staff • Modern and efficient plumbing, electric HVAC, and WiFi systems See the plans at ousd.k12. ca.us/glenviewconstruction AUGUST 6, 2014 | GLENVIEW RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE Glenview Reconstruction FAQ Why is Glenview scheduled for reconstruction? Glenview has been considered for renovation for some time. In fact, amongst all OUSD school sites, Glenview was ranked as the 9th most in need of renovation when the previous bond measure was passed in November 2006. • California’s Department of General Services, Division of the State Architect includes Glenview on AB300, a list of buildings that do not meet current seismic safety standards. More information about AB300 and its classifications can be found here: dgs.ca.gov/dsa/aboutus/ ab300.aspx • A seismic engineer’s report commissioned by PTA showed that Glenview’s portables were unsafe. ousd.k12.ca.us/ Page/11253 • Glenview families have lobbied for reconstruction of the campus for years in order to make the building safer and to create more usable space for student enrichment. Parents gathered more than 100 signatures and pushed for change. After much negotiation, OUSD agreed to replace the current structure with a new building, contingent upon passage of a Bond Measure, which occurred in November 2012 when Oakland voters adopted Measure J. When is the Glenview projected scheduled to begin? The project is scheduled to begin in June 2016 and end in June 2018. The start date of the project was delayed by one year (from June 2015) to allow for more community engagement after concerns were voiced about the project. A more detailed timeline can be found at ousd.k12.ca.us/Page/11252 Where will Glenview students attend school during the renovation? A final decision on where Glenview students might attend school during the reconstruction has not been made. What is the staff recommendation for the Glenview Reconstruction project? Replacement of the current Glenview building is recommended as an alternative to renovation because of guidance from the state. Structural analysis and cost estimates have determined that, although a renovation of Glenview would cost two-thirds the amount of replacement with a new building, renovation would take longer than constructing a new building and would not address undersized class-rooms and other deficiencies in the existing structure. State guidelines call for replacement under these circumstances. Did OUSD perform a detailed seismic evaluation of the school, as discussed in AB 300? The Glenview seismic assessment was performed in accordance with the national standard for seismic assessment, ASCE/SEI 31-03, which supersedes FEMA 310. Where can I view the reports and analysis that informed staff’s recommendation for replacement? Please visit ousd.k12.ca.us/ glenviewconstruction for updates on the Glenview reconstruction and to download documents such as the master plan summary for Glenview, renovation vs. restructuring comparisons, seismic reports, cost-benefit analyses and more.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:45:20 +0000
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