At its September 29, 2015 meeting, the Board approved the schematic design for a Measure I-funded project to upgrade and modernize Maya Lin School. The project includes relocation of the existing administrative office to a new location within the existing school building; construction of an entrance vestibule near the relocated office to enhance campus security; relocating a special education pre-school classroom to a new location within the existing school building; transforming and upgrading the school’s façade to provide for a more energy-efficient building envelope and a more comfortable learning environment inside exterior-facing classrooms; and technology, plumbing, 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 Maya Lin project falls under one such exemption.

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 upgrade to Maya Lin’s existing building will not expand the use or capacity of the site.