District Helps Neighbors Deal with Neil Cummins Construction

Construction at Neil Cummins Elementary School is moving full steam ahead, but that also means it will be a noisy summer for neighbors.

In an effort to mitigate concerns, Larkspur-Corte Madera School District Superintendent Valerie Pitts sent a letter to Madera Gardens residents with a detailed timeline of what to expect from now until the end of June.

“The District’s goals are to minimize hardship on its community members and ensure safe and timely project completion,” Pitts said. “A project of this magnitude and one that is under severe time constraints, is difficult if not impossible to complete without some disruptions. We apologize in advance.”

The modernization kicked off on June 5, and will be completed by September 8, according to the project schedule. During this time the Mohawk Avenue entrance and parking lot will be closed, and the walking path behind the campus will be periodically off-limits to allow for construction access. The gymnasium and other buildings, as well as the playground, will remain open.

The work includes accessibility upgrades, a reconfigured drop-off loop, extensive classroom and bathroom modernizations, and window upgrades. The project goes hand-in-hand with upgrades at Hall and the building of what will become the new Cove School on the San Clemente site.

The city passed a bond to build a new school due to overcrowding at Neil Cummins. The elementary school will open in 2914 with about 325 students, and is expected to reach capacity by 2016 with 450 students.

“Ultimately, this modernization will improve our schools and communities,” Pitts said. “In addition, the building of The Cove School in East Corte Madera will significantly decrease traffic congestion, relieve parking problems, and, resultantly, reduce noise in the Madera Gardens neighborhood.”

If you encounter any out-of-the-norm issues related to the project, or have concerns, contact Wolf Gutscher at 415-378-3799. The district will post twice monthly updates regarding the construction on the school website:  www.lcmschools.org.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Work Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
• Activities: Site utilities, rough grading, irrigation sleeves, underground electrical, rough electrical, rough plumbing, carpentry. *NOTE – Minimal jack hammer activities scheduled from this point forward.
• What to Expect: Backhoes and excavators, semi-trucks delivering construction materials, bulldozers, motor graders and water trucks, hand tools including saws, drills and nail guns.

• Work Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  
• Activities: Site utilities, rough grading, irrigation sleeves, underground electrical, rough electrical, rough plumbing, carpentry.
• What to Expect: Backhoes and excavators, semi-trucks delivering construction materials, bulldozers, motor graders and water trucks, hand tools including saws, drills and nail guns.

Sunday, June 30th                 

• Work Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
• Activities: None currently planned however schedule may change
• What to expect: Motorized loaders, hand tools including saws, drills and nail guns, carpentry.