Decision Made on Kolb Elementary Opening
The Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) Board met this past Tuesday night and voted to delay the construction and opening of the $26M Kolb Elementary School at least one more year with an option to go out to bid in 6 months. The Board’s decision boiled down to the evaluation of two options:
- Build Kolb now to take advantage of low construction costs and open in fall 2011; or
- Delay building Kolb for at least one more year and plan to open in fall 2011.
The state of California will eventually provide $19M for the construction of Kolb with an additional $7M funded by the DUSD. If the DUSD Board had chosen to build Kolb now, they would have needed to receive a bridge loan on the $26M at a rate of 3.5%/year until the State and development impact fees could be received (the interest could have been reimbursed at no net cost to the DUSD).
While many residents provided feedback at the Kolb townhall and Board meetings supporting the “build now” option (as summarized in speeches from Dan and Katherine Cherrier), the DUSD Board felt that it would be best to hold off on building Kolb for at least one more year. As Board Trustee Jennifer Henry noted, “If there is community pressure to build Kolb, then tell them to go talk to the State.”
Given that the construction of Kolb will be pushed out at least one more year, the DUSD Board will likely take the following actions to address the projected shortage of K-5 classroom space in East Dublin (in order of priority):
- Move the Dougherty Elementary School boundary line to Hacienda Drive. Kids living west of Hacienda Drive will attend Frederiksen Elementary School.
- Forced student diversions to West Dublin schools.
- Portables at Green Elementary School.
The DUSD Board will be working in the months ahead to craft the optimal approach to accommodate East Dublin’s burgeoning K-5 population.
12:43 PM on February 16th, 2009
It seeme pretty clear that the boaundaries need to be moved to Hacienda Drive. What are they waiting for?
3:17 PM on February 16th, 2009
TO Anonymous on February 16, 2009 11:43 AM
Why can’t we just move the boundaries now?
1. In order to make sure those impacted by boundary changes are part of the process, a Boundary Committee is being formed. [call Shelley at 828-2551 X 8002 to join). You want to be part of the work effort, don’t you?
2. To change boundaries requires a look at all current boundaries in the district, not just Kolb. So, a district wide analysis will be done.
3. Since the Kolb opening has been delayed, we are okay for the time being on boundaries. The committee will spend a few months putting together a solid recommendation to the school board.
Hope that helps answer your question.
John B. Ledahl
LedahlJohn@Dublin.k12.ca.us
1:53 PM on March 12th, 2009
I went in to register our child for Kindergarten at Green elementary recently only to find out that he is now waitlisted and may be diverted to a West Dublin school. This is ridiculous considering we only live 2 blocks from Green. I would much rather see portables go up at Green rather than to have my son be diverted to a school a few miles away. I hope the board will consider reprioritizing the priority list.
2:02 PM on March 12th, 2009
School Board members serve all of Dublin. We are in a tight spot thanks to the state. We are lucky to have the schools open. From what I hear, only one parent with kids showed up and said something, so clearly people realize that we all have to make sacrifices.
5:25 PM on March 12th, 2009
In Answer to the wait-listed question:
It was nice to hear someone state – “School Board members serve all of Dublin” and also reference the dire straits education in the Tri-Valley is in.
I don’t know where your child is on the list, but there is still some chance a class will open at Green. There is always movement of people in and out of Dublin. However, it is just as likely your child will be diverted. Decisions like this are made at the school site level and district policy and procedures are followed. On another note, Green will be built out soon with 2 more classrooms (not portables). All class scheduling plans take this into account.
Hope that helps.
John B. Ledahl