Tri-Valley voters approve plan for new schools

Simplified: Voters in the Tri-Valley School District on Tuesday passed a plan to spend more than $50 million to build a new high school, new elementary school and to upgrade the current facility.

Why it matters

• Tri-Valley has tried and failed in the past to pass bonds for smaller-scale projects, but this time, the bond passed with 60 percent of the vote (a win by just under 230 votes).
• The current school is overcrowded, and Superintendent Mike Lodmel said teachers have been sharing classrooms while students receive tutoring services in areas that "should frankly be used as closets."

"This should be a tremendous boost to our students and staff that are currently teaching and learning in areas that we have outgrown for some time," Lodmel said in a statement following the results Tuesday night.

What will the bond cover?

The biggest expense is the construction of a $35 million new high school building, which would be located just east of the football field.

• That includes 29 classrooms, a 500-seat auditorium, a 5,000 square-foot shop and about 500 more parking spaces.

The new elementary school would be a build-out of the Early Learning Center in Crooks.

• About $9 million would fund 20 additional classrooms as well as a gym, cafeteria and common area.
• Grades K-4 would be split between the current school building and this new facility.

Upgrades to the current K-12 school – which would be a K-8 school once the new high school is completed – include additional restrooms, remodeled locker rooms and more storage.

• The $8 million remodel also includes outdoor improvements like updated grandstands.