Albany Unified School District’s Summer 2014 Facilities Projects

Information from the Albany Unified School District: 

Q. What are Albany Unified School District’s (AUSD’s) planned Summer 2014 Facilities Projects?

A.

1. Albany High School Remodeling
2. Mac Gregor High School Demolition
3. Albany Middle School modular classroom(s) Installation
4. Ocean View Elementary School Modular classroom Installation
5. Marin Elementary School modular classroom Installation
6.  Cornell Elementary School modular classroom Installation.

Q. Why is AUSD planning Summer 2014 Facilities Projects?
A. The Albany Unified School District Board of Education made two decisions that will require facilities projects during the Summer of 2014. 

The first decision was in response to a facilities master plan analysis conducted over the past year determined that that the Mac Gregor High School building on San Gabriel is not suitable short or long term as an educational facility. On October 29, 2013, the Board voted to demolish the existing San Gabriel site.

The students and programs displaced by the demolition will need to be absorbed by Albany High School and Albany Middle School. The middle school will need four additional modular classrooms and the high school will need remodeling to accommodate these students and programs. 

The second decision was made out of concern that rising class sizes in the early elementary grades could threaten educational quality. The Board voted to reduce student to teacher ratios from a maximum of 27:1 to 24:1 in Transitional Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Q. How will AUSD accomplish the Summer 2014 Projects?
A. AUSD has contracted with licensed architects and contractors to complete the Summer 2014 Facilities Projects. The Facilities Department will coordinate the work. Please direct all questions to Facilities Supervisor, Don Albright at (510) 558-3986 and/or dalbright@ausdk12.org.

Q. When will AUSD’s Summer 2014 Projects occur?
A. AUSD’s Summer 2014 Projects are scheduled to begin on June 16, 2014 and be completed by August 8, 2014.

1. Albany High School remodeling is scheduled to begin June 16, 2014;
2. Mac Gregor High School demolition is scheduled to begin July 1, 2014;
3. Albany Middle School modular classroom(s) installation is scheduled to begin June 23, 2014
4. 5. 6. Ocean View Elementary School Modular classroom Installation, Marin Elementary School modular classroom Installation; and Cornell Elementary School modular classroom Installation are scheduled to begin June 23, 2014.

Q. What steps is AUSD taking to inform students, parents, staff, and the community about the Summer 2014 Facilities Projects?
A. AUSD conducted the following outreach:

1. Emails will be sent to AUSD All Staff
2. Information will be posted in the E-trees, in the AUSD June Newsletter, on AUSD website, Facebook page, and Albany Patch.

Q. Why is Albany High School being remodeling the during the AUSD Summer 2014 Facilities Projects?
A. A facilities master plan analysis conducted over the past year determined that the Mac Gregor High School campus on San Gabriel is not suitable short or long term as an educational facility. On October 29, 2013, the Board voted to demolish the existing MacGregor High School campus located on the San Gabriel site. The MacGregor High School students and the Culinary program displaced by the 
demolition will be absorbed by Albany High School, and the high school will need remodeling this summer to accommodate these students and programs and address other student needs.

Q. What is the scope of work that will take place as part of Albany High School remodeling?
A. The scope of work is:

1. Room 109 will be divided into 2 classrooms with an opening being created in 109 B to get to the green screen room
2. Room 110 will be converted into a series of small office spaces and a conference space
3. Room 214 will be divided into 2 classrooms, 1 larger and 1 smaller
4. The office on the third floor next to room 315 will become a classroom (316)
5. Room 126 in the Theater building will get 2 sinks for art
6. Room 132 will be converted to a culinary program classroom.

Q. How will AUSD accomplish the remodeling of the Albany High School campus?
A. AUSD has contracted with licensed architects and contractors to complete the Summer 2014 Facilities Projects. The Facilities Department will coordinate the work. Please direct all questions to Facilities Supervisor, Don Albright at (510) 558-3986 and/or dalbright@ausdk12.org.

Q. When will the remodeling of the Albany High School campus occur?
A. Remodeling of the Albany High School campus is scheduled to begin June 16, 2014 and be completed by August 8, 2014.

Q. What steps is AUSD taking to inform students, parents, staff, and the community about the 
remodeling of the Albany High School campus?
A. AUSD conducted the following outreach:

1. The Facilities Department conducted a question and answer session with AHS staff on 6/10/14
2. Emails will be sent to AHS staff with construction updates during the summer
3. Information will be posted on the E-trees, in the AUSD June Newsletter, AUSD website, Facebook page, and Albany Patch.

Q. What steps is AUSD taking to minimize the impact on the community from the remodeling of Albany High School campus?
A. To reduce noise, work is scheduled on Monday – Friday during the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Albany Unified School District wants to keep you informed of our facilities planning with regards to both Albany Middle School and MacGregor High School.

Things that will change:

• During this summer, the buildings that currently house MacGregor High School and other programs on the San Gabriel site will be demolished due to safety concerns and the lot will be cleared.
• When the 2014-15 school year begins, Albany Middle School teachers will park in the cleared lot on the San Gabriel site because it will provide more parking spaces.
• During the summer, 4 temporary modular buildings will be placed at Albany Middle School on what is currently the Albany Middle School teacher’s parking.
• The 4 temporary modular buildings will be used by Albany Middle School students displaced by the demolition.
• MacGregor High School students will use classrooms at Albany High School.
• When construction on the San Gabriel site is completed, the 4 temporary modular buildings at Albany Middle School will be removed.

Things that will not change:

• The cul-de-sac on Spokane will not be used for student drop off or pick up.
• The Spokane gate will not be used for Cougar Field access.
• The trees and landscaping on the border of the parking lot will not be removed.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Don Albright, Facilities Supervisor at dalbright@ausdk12.org or 510-558-3986.

Q. What steps is AUSD taking to minimize the impact on students, parents, staff, & the communityfrom the demolition of the MacGregor High School campus on the San Gabriel site?
A. To reduce noise, work is scheduled Monday – Friday during the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

To increase safety, temporary fencing will be installed around the site. To reduce dust and debris, a contractor-controlled wind screen will be installed. To reduce traffic, AUSD will work with the City of Albany to ensure travel of equipment occurs down San Pablo to Brighton. San Gabriel and Brighton will not be used to transport equipment.