School Board Chooses Hoover Design

The Burlingame Elementary School District Board of Trustees moved forward with the transformation of the Hoover school site Tuesday night during its meeting when members decided on the design of the school.

The board members previously narrowed down the design between two options, A and C, but finalized their decision after hearing a presentation from representatives of Dreiling Terrones Architecture.

They chose Option C, which will renovate the building at 2220 Summit Drive and construct a new building for a total of 11 classrooms, a day care and a library with construction costs of $9.8 million.

Option A included eight classrooms, a day care and a library at a cost of $7.25 million. This option would require a 270-foot ramp to accommodate a 19-foot grade change between street level and the building, while Option C includes a building holding the day care and five classrooms at about street level.

Even though the price tag is steeper for Option C, board members argued it is more logical in the long run.

“We’re getting three more classrooms in Option C, we’re getting a larger library in Option C,” said Vice President Michael Barber. “If we’re going through the efforts of opening a new school…if we’re going to do this, let’s do it right.”

Trustee Davina Drabkin emphasized that capital decisions are long term decisions and need to be considered for the future, as well as the present.

“I don’t want to make a decision based on just a few years out that is a poor decision 10 to 15 years down the road,” Drabkin said. “I think for the long term [Option C] is a better option.”

The board members hope funding for Hoover will become available through passing a future bond measure. Trustee Greg Land worried about the implications of passing a $25 million bond, but agreed that if passed, constructing a building following Option C makes better sense for the long term.

However, Trustee Liz Gindraux pointed out that a bond will be necessary for any adaption to the Hoover site, regardless of the price.

“It’s not going to be the difference between passing a bond or not,” she said. “The option is going to be nothing or we’re building.”

Board members made sure to clarify bond money would reach farther than just Hoover, and go towards the modernization and building of all the schools in the district.

Richard Terrones of Dreiling Terrones highlighted earlier in the night the projects completed at the schools over the summer using bond funds. A full list can be found here.

The Hoover school site was purchased last summer using funds from the $48.3 million Measure A bond that was approved in 2007 for school facility renovation and improvement. It will be used as a neighborhood school upon its opening.