Lexington School to Cost $21 Million

The project has increased by $3 million, thanks to additional geotechnical and seismic work, which brings its total construction cost to $21 million, education officials have revealed.

Leslie Paulides, assistant superintendent of business services, told trustees Tuesday evening that although costs for the new Lexington School were originally budgeted at $18 million, some of the difference will be made up with $1 million in Measure E contingency money.

During a meeting at district headquarters, Paulides also said Measure E revenue has jumped from $40-$42 million, because of higher-than-forecast bond proceeds and state funding. This extra revenue will also help offset the cost.

Several Lexington parents and teachers spoke passionately about the need for a new school.

“The Lexington community has been anxiously waiting our turn,” one parent said.

Others expressed concerns about one of Paulides’ options to bring down construction costs, potentially saving $500,000.

The controversial plan would house 200 Lexington students at ’s existing portables rather than housing them at for the one-year construction period. 

Some parents said Louise Van Meter Elementary is already over capacity and that housing 200 additional students would affect the quality of education for students there.

LezLi Logan, president of the Raymond J. Fisher Middle School Home and School Club, asked the trustees, “How much is too much to rebuild Lexington?”

She also told trustees to “take a risk and get creative, because the de-scope proposals are not enough.”

Parents expressed the need for trustees to continue to fund other Measure E projects, such as the small gym at Fisher.

Other cost-saving measures being considered for the Lexington project include reducing the number of classrooms, which could save the district $1.5 million, Paulides said.

In Other News 

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Bitsey Stark provided an analysis of the 2010-11 STAR/API data results by district and school. , according to the latest data released Aug. 31 by the California Department of Education.

The district, which includes four elementary schools and one middle school, improved nine points from last year's score of 930. earned the highest number among the schools in the district, with 953, a three-point drop from last year. the district's sole middle school, jumped an astonishing 18 points, from 909 to 927. 

Lastly, there was correspondence noted for informational purposes regarding

In a letter dated Sept. 6 to Suzanne Davis of the Los Gatos Community Development Department, stated, “The district forecasts that these new units would bring approximately 10-15 new students to our elementary and middle schools.

"We are currently operating at capacity at all of our downtown schools and anticipate that this development will create the need for additional classrooms. We have just finished constructing additional classrooms at R.J. Fisher Middle School and are currently constructing new classrooms at Louise Van Meter Elementary School. These new facilities will fulfill some but not all of the projected growth in residential units for Los Gatos families.”

She went on to state that “in addition to the direct impact on our schools, the intersection of Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road is one of the most heavily traveled in town during school hours, especially during busy drop-off and pick-up times.

"The district continues to have concerns about the safe travel of both children and families across this busy intersection as they make their way to and from school. It is our hope that the town has given ample consideration to the traffic impact implicit in the site design of this project and the needs of the Los Gatos children and its schools.”

Joanne Benjamin, a representative of Robson Homes, developer for the proposed Honda site, said, “Mr. Robson will contribute $150,000 to the town for the schools, no strings attached.”

Benjamin also said that Robson is willing to add sidewalks to provide safer routes in and around the proposed development.

Paulides told trustees that the elementary schools are all at or very close to capacity. She added that even after Lexington is built as proposed and without any reductions, 70 of 76 non-kindergarten classrooms and 13 of 14 kindergarten rooms would be full at current enrollment levels.

The district’s schools are expected to reach full capacity during the 2013-14 school year, she noted, adding that “the big challenge is what we do long term.”