Middle School Modernization Updates
Facilities Modernization Projects
AT A GLANCE
Modenization Project Overview
Renovation of the Existing MVMS Campus
In December 2025, the Board of Trustees certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), clearing the way for renovation of the existing middle school campus.
The project will modernize the existing campus with targeted improvements to support current educational needs while remaining within the Measure G budget. Improvements will:
- Replace aging infrastructure
- Upgrade interior and exterior spaces
- Improve safety and accessibility
- Enhance STEM learning environments
Interim Campus
During construction, students and staff will be housed in portable classrooms located on the existing campus. The interim campus is being designed in coordination with the modular classroom provider, architect, contractor, and the Department of State Architect.
Planning includes classroom spaces, administrative areas, student support spaces, and outdoor areas for circulation and lunch. The District is working to ensure the interim campus is safe, functional, and supports day-to-day school operations throughout the construction period.
Approvals & Coordination
Plans for the interim campus and the renovation must be reviewed and approved by the Department of State Architect, the state agency that oversees school construction to ensure safety and compliance with building standards.
Environmental Plans
Environmental studies have evaluated soil, groundwater, and soil vapor conditions at the campus. These studies found no increased risk to students or staff under current school use.
As a conservative, forward-looking measure, the District will complete additional testing and prepare environmental plans to support future, long-term use of the campus. These plans will include measures such as systems to protect indoor air quality and ongoing site management practices.
The District will continue working with regulatory agencies, including the LEA, to ensure all appropriate protections are in place.
Next Steps / Schedule
- Expected start of interim campus construction: June 2026
- Students relocated to interim campus: December 2026
- Expected start of renovation of existing campus: January 2027
- Duration of interim campus use: approximately two years
The District will obtain all required permits and approvals prior to each phase of work.
Community Outreach
We encourage questions from the school community and will continue to provide updates as the project moves forward. Questions can be submitted to the District and will be addressed through an ongoing FAQ that will be maintained and updated on the project website.
Mill Valley Middle School Modernization Project Frequently Asked Questions
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Construction of the interim campus is expected to begin in June 2026. Prior to starting construction, the Dept. of the State Architect needs to approve the design drawings and the Marin Local Enforcement Agency needs to approve plans to address environmental conditions.
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Students currently in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade are anticipated to move to the interim campus in December 2026. They are expected to remain there for approximately two years during construction.
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The interim campus is currently in the planning and design phase and is being developed in coordination with the modular classroom provider, architect, contractor, and the Department of State Architect. It will include:
- Classroom spaces, including art and science rooms
- Administrative areas
- Student support spaces
- Outdoor areas for circulation and lunch
Students will still use Friends Field for physical education.
The District anticipates sharing interim campus plans with the community in April/May 2026.
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Protecting student and staff health is a top priority and environmental testing has shown that the existing campus is safe under current conditions.
During the interim campus phase, the District will continue working with regulatory agencies, including the Marin County Local Enforcement Agency and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, to ensure appropriate protections are in place.
Measures include:
- Continued regulatory oversight
- Implementation of the Post-Closure Land Use Plan and Soil Management Plan for all soil disturbing work
- Ongoing site management practices
- Monitoring and controls, as needed, to address dust, air quality, and noise
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Renovation of the existing campus is expected to begin in January 2027.
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Students are expected to return to the renovated campus in January 2029, after approximately two years at the interim campus. The District will continue to provide updates as the schedule is finalized.
Plans for the renovation are currently under development and are anticipated to be shared with the community in fall 2026
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The project will modernize the existing campus while remaining within the $95 million in hard construction costs which is funded through Measure G funds. Improvements include:
- Replacing aging infrastructure, bathrooms and elevators
- Upgrading interior and exterior spaces
- Improving safety and accessibility
- Enhancing STEM learning environments
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The school site was historically used as a landfill prior to construction of the campus in 1970. Extensive environmental testing completed in 2025 and 2026 shows that the campus is safe for students and staff under current conditions.
As part of the modernization project, the District will conduct additional work to ensure that the campus remains safe for long-term use. All work is overseen and approved by the Marin County Local Enforcement Agency and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Planned measures include:
- Installing an engineered barrier beneath the main campus building to protect indoor air quality
- Adding clean material in landscaped areas to prevent contact with underlying soils
- Enhancing areas along Ryan Creek with protective vegetated cover
- Installing methane monitoring systems in classrooms and common areas
- Ongoing inspection, oversight, and site management by regulatory agencies
- Recording a land use covenant on the property to prohibit certain land uses and ensure any soil that is disturbed is managed and disposed of in accordance with all regulations
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The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) oversaw and approved the Preliminary Environmental Assessment in December 2025.
As part of its approval, DTSC recommended additional sub-slab testing and site investigation work. Data from this work will be used to help design protective systems beneath campus buildings.
Oversight of this next phase of work is transitioning to the Regional Water Quality Control Board and will be coordinated with the Marin County Local Enforcement Agency.
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Ryan Creek is currently fenced to prevent access and ensure student safety.
A separate division of the Regional Water Quality Control Board will oversee planned creek mitigation work which will include installation of a vegetative cover along the banks of the creek. This work is anticipated to occur in summer 2027.
Multiple regulatory agencies will be involved in reviewing and overseeing this work, including:
- Regional Water Quality Control Board (lead agency)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Marin County Local Enforcement Agency
These agencies will ensure that all work is conducted safely and in compliance with environmental regulations.
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The District will continue to provide updates via this website, at school functions and via parent newsletters issued by the Superintendent and individual school principals.
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We encourage questions from the school community. This FAQ will be updated as new information becomes available
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Community members are encouraged to submit questions to the District so they can be addressed in future updates. Communicaitons@mvschools.org