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The Stone Valley Middle School modernization project continues to progress, and while the project has already fallen more than a year behind its initial completion timeline, San Ramon Valley Unified School District officials are optimistic about the current status to finish during this school year.
After construction began in January 2016, the comprehensive modernization project at the Alamo campus was originally estimated to be completed in time for the 2017-18 school year, but various setbacks pushed the project’s completion date into and through that school year and eventually later.
While the school board is still reviewing the fine points of the project’s final completion date, as of Thursday, officials now estimate the project won’t be completed until this coming winter.
“Previous projections reflected a fall (2018) completion date, but due to ongoing construction issues, completion has been pushed to the winter,” SRVUSD spokesperson Elizabeth Graswich said. “The District is committed to providing a realistic and transparent completion date, but is working closely with the contractors to explore all opportunities to expedite the project and complete the work sooner than projected. We will continue to update the community as more information becomes available.”
The project’s general contractor Vila Construction, had previously agreed to finish the project by May. But as spring rolled on, company officials said they needed until at least November, prompting the school board to consider terminating its contract with the Richmond construction company.
After an in-person meeting with company president and CEO Richard Vila, the board opted to defer the decision to terminate and continue to work with the company.
“I want to rectify or right the ship,” Vila said in a joint statement between SRVUSD and Vila issued after the district’s June 28 board meeting. “I want to get this job done as soon as I can with the least cost to the district and the least cost to me also. I want to make it right. I am committed to being on the job site every day. The attitude in the field from my personnel is going to change.”
SRVUSD facilities director Danny Hillman said that the working relationship between the district and Vila Construction has greatly improved since the CEO’s increased hands-on involvement in the project.
“With the president’s, Rich Vila’s, involvement I think we have open lines of communication. Which I think is what’s most important, especially on these types of projects,” Hillman said. “Open lines of communications are super helpful, if there is a concern on either side we can attack it quickly and keep (the project) going.”
When asked about the project’s current progress, Vila Construction declined to comment.
Funded through the Measure D local school facilities bond, the estimated $40.3 million project aims to replace decades-old single-story classrooms with a new L-shaped, two-story building. The project also features a multipurpose building, a 39,300-square-foot outdoor quad, maintain seven outdoor basketball courts and upgrade the schools sewer and drainage systems.
While the project continues, students are being housed in temporary buildings on the southwest side of the nearly 10-acre school site, 22 portables are being used as classrooms and two have been functioning as the short-term library.
Stone Valley’s new principal Justin White, isn’t intimidated by the construction going on at his new school and is excited to get to work, meet the students and get to know the staff. A former assistant principal from San Ramon Valley High School, White also said that he already has some experience educating while a school is under construction.
“I’ve been dealing with construction a lot lately,” White said with a laugh. “I can’t be any more excited to get to work. The biggest thing for me right now is getting to know our staff and meeting the students. We’re all very excited for the opportunity.”
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The estimated $40.3 million construction project aims to replace decades-old single-story classrooms with a new L-shaped, two-story building. (photos by Ryan J. Degan) -
The Stone Valley Middle School modernization efforts are projected to be completed in winter 2019, over a year after its original estimated end date. (Photo by Ryan J. Degan) -
Yellow hallways intend to brighten up the inside of the school. (photos by Ryan J. Degan) -
An average sized classroom awaits completion. (photos by Ryan J. Degan) -
The project will also include a new multipurpose room for various events, meetings and school plays. (photo by Ryan J. Degan)
While this has been a boondoggle of the first order, I’d just be happy if they could keep the rocks and construction debris off Miranda in front of the school. I cannot imagine how much damage this is causing to our cars as we drive up and down the street every day.