At its September 29, 2015 meeting, the Board approved the schematic design for a Measure I-funded project to upgrade and expand the capacity of Otis Elementary School. The project includes removal of three aging portable classrooms; relocation of three existing portable classrooms to a new location on the existing school grounds; construction of a new two-story school building on the existing school grounds with six classrooms, two “break-out” spaces, one staff restroom, and a custodial space; creation of new outdoor learning spaces on the existing school footprint; and security, technology, and communications upgrades.

Before proceeding with the project, the District must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires the preparation of environmental impact statements unless one of a number of exemptions apply. District staff, working together with an expert, concluded that the Otis project falls under two exemptions.

The first, set out in section 15314 of the CEQA regulations, categorically exempts all minor additions to existing schools within existing school grounds where the addition does not increase original student capacity by ten classrooms or more than 25%, whichever is less. Staff concluded that this exemption applies because the project will increase Otis’s capacity by three classrooms and 13%.

The second, set out in section 15301 of the CEQA regulations, categorically exempts the repair or minor alteration of existing public structures involving negligible or no expansion of use. Staff believes this exemption applies because the relocation and upgrade of existing facilities will not expand the use of the site.

 Once the project is found to be exempt from CEQA, the project is not subject to CEQA’s requirements and construction can begin once the work is contracted out. If the Board approves this resolution, staff will file a Notice of Exemption with the county clerk.