Facility projects at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) elementary school sites and an update on the district’s project-based learning progress will be broached during Thursday’s meeting of the district’s Board of Education.
During the meeting, the Board will discuss and likely adopt a resolution to certify the Grant Elementary School campus master plan’s final environmental impact report, along with a decision to carry out the project at the site. The resolution affirms that the final environmental impact report complies with the California Environmental Quality Act, and states that the project would not cause any “unavoidable significant impacts” that would require an override of considerations for the project.
The Grant master plan is a makeover of the campus that would incorporate three phases over approximately five years of construction. Highlights of the plan include the demolition of 10 existing portable classrooms and playground restrooms, the construction of two new single-story elementary classroom buildings, the creation of a new library and maker space, interior renovation of the transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, improvements to the central garden and reconfiguration of campus parking.
On November 29, 2023, SMMUSD staff conducted a community presentation on the Grant project as well as the drafted environmental impact report (EIR). After a 45-day comment period, the district received 17 comments on the EIR, including an objection from individuals to the proposed 32-space increase in on-campus parking. In response, the project now includes the Pearl Street Community Plaza in place of the existing 14-space parking lot at Pearl Street and 24th Court. This plaza would only be accessible by pedestrian and bicyclists only.
Furthermore, the board will also look to adopt a resolution exempting the Grant project from the City of Santa Monica zoning ordinances. Per city government code, public entities are generally required to comply with municipal zoning ordinances, but the code provides an exception for a school district’s educational facilities. The district must take action by a two-thirds’ vote of all board members to exempt the project from the city’s zoning ordinances and associated permit requirements.
Thursday’s meeting will see the board also approve a contract amendment for the McKinley Elementary School Administration and Early Elementary Building Project with Balfour-Beatty Construction, LLC in an amount not to exceed $27,160,777 for a total guaranteed maximum price contract value of $31,011,255. The McKinley project was slated to begin construction in June 2023, but was delayed due to value engineering exercises and unforeseen environmental challenges necessitating a redesign and rebid of certain project elements. The project has now successfully rebid and is tracking to begin construction this summer, and will be funded through Measure SMS.
Along with the construction updates, the board will hear an update on the district’s project-based learning implementation plan, including Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and the development of the Integrated Academies at Santa Monica High School. The project-based learning initiative began implementation in December 2018, consisting of four “PBL Tenants,” those being: The expansion of PK-12 PBL professional development opportunities for teachers, strengthening high school college and career learning pathways, developing capstone learning experiences and launching a 9th grade PBL student cohort.
The district’s educational services team will update the board on the progress of implementing these tenants, including 2023-24 school year achievements like the launch of new CTE programs and continued industry certifications.