Research informs the development direction of the Facilities Master Plan. LPA thoroughly investigates and analyzes the background issues that impact future improvements, such as demographic trends, community development, existing school site deficiencies, and functional concerns. We also evaluate the District’s objectives—from program appropriateness and operational efficiency to facilities and technical standards. It’s a thoughtful, data-driven approach to planning.

Projected Enrollment for the Facilities Master Plan

Program Approach

Elementary Schools Program

Classroom Loading:

• Grades TK – 3rd @ 24:1
• Grades 4th – 5th @ 32:1

Special Education:

• Moderate/Severe Classroom for K-2
• Moderate/Severe Classroom for 3-5

These rooms are included in the master plan to support the inclusion of students with special needs.

Elementary Electives:

• Art
• Music
• Flex

Two to three Electives spaces are planned for at each elementary campus.

Learning Resource Center:

Sized at three classroom equivalent.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK):

Each elementary site plan identifies an area of growth to accommodate Transitional Kindergarten programs, labeled as Potential Childhood Development Expansion. These plans should be updated when the district determines their approach to Transitional Kindergarten along with the accompanying enrollment projections.

Middle Schools Program

Classroom Loading:

• Grades 6th – 8th @ 35:1

Special Education:

• (2) Moderate/Severe Classrooms, minimum.

These rooms are included in the master plan to support the inclusion of students with special needs.

Electives:

• Art
• Music
• Flex

6th Grade Science:

Learning Resource Center:

Sized at three classroom equivalent plus 480-sf for Assisted Daily Living.

SCOPES OF WORK

Budget Development

The following comments are intended to lend understanding to the development of the budgets included in the Facilities Master Plan and what steps should be taken beyond this study as the District continues planning for future facilities.

Project budgets have been developed for each school site and District support site based on program and campus needs identified by the District and school site educational partner groups during the Facilities Master Plan process. Each budget contains a breakdown based on the (17) scope categories with associated areas, unit costs, construction costs, and soft costs; which result in a total project cost for each campus.

The total project cost includes the total costs to construct the project with the following markups and soft costs applied to the construction unit costs. It should be noted that all total project costs outlined in the Facilities Master Plan are in 2022 dollars. Upon inception of each proposed facilities modernization or new construction project, the cost for each scope of work should be escalated to the anticipated mid-point of construction as a project scope and schedule are identified in consultation with District staff and the Board of Education.

Master Plan Cost Summary

The following outlines the master plan and school site costs for each of the (9) existing educational facilities and line items for district support sites. These total costs represent the entire need identified for each school site based on the Facility Condition Assessments and input during the master planning process from the Steering Committee, the Facilities Master Plan Committee, and the individual School Site Committees.

The budgets developed for this Facilities Master Plan include construction costs and soft costs for the scope of work identified in this study, based on information known by the District, LPA, and cost estimating consultant, HL Construction Management at this time and have been adjusted to reflect construction costs within the Silicon Valley.

Exclusions

The following unknowns were not included in the cost estimate:

• Utility and City connection fees, off-site improvements, traffic signals or re-striping of City streets is not included in these budgets. These requirements and costs are subject to change regularly by the City or utility companies, and are best identified early in project development.
• No land acquisition costs have been included in these budgets, and should be considered separately.
• No hazardous materials surveys, asbestos or lead paint abatement or monitoring costs are included in these budgets for renovation work on existing buildings. Also not included are any surveys for removal of contaminated or unsuitable soils on existing or new sites.
• Phasing and interim housing/facility costs are not included in these budgets. These costs should be determined once an implementation plan is developed, including a project schedule and phasing plan for the individual projects.

Rather than representing costs as one large total sum, the total FMP need was broken into (17) project scope categories that would be the foundation for the work proposed at each school site, aligning with the Learning Space Design Standards in the Vision section of the FMP. This organization serves as a foundation for each conceptual master plan design and ensures parity between educational and support sites in the District while serving as a tool for prioritization as funds become available.

17 project scope categories were developed to help define the work proposed at each site:

1. Site-Wide Deferred Maintenance
2. Classrooms: Modernize and Reconfigure
3. Classrooms: New Construction
4. Science, Arts, and Electives
5. Multi-Purpose Room and Food Service
6. Library
7. Student Support and Counseling Spaces
8. Administration and Staff Support
9. Physical Education Facilities
10. Building Systems: Toilets and Power Access
11. Site Utilities
12. Safety and Security
13. Campus Arrival: Parking, Drop-Off, and Entry Plaza
14. Outdoor Learning Environments and Quads
15. Exterior Play Spaces and Hardcourts
16. Flexible Furniture
17. Technology Infrastructure and Equipment

COSTS

The Master Plan diagrams were revised after receiving input from the School Site Committee in the Principal 1-on-1 meetings. Estimated costs were developed for the finalized Master Plan diagrams.

All costs shown are in 2022 dollars. For planning purposes, once a project moves forward to Board approval, the District’s facilities department should escalate these costs to the midpoint of project construction.

The following items are excluded from this budget:

• Utility hook-up fees & City connection fees
• Off-site work and traffic signals
• Land acquisition costs
• Temporary classrooms
• Hazardous material surveys, abatement and disposal
• Escalation (costs are in 2022$)

The full scope of need reflected within the master plan exceeds Sunnyvale SD’s current funding availability, however funding does exist for the district to begin allocating the top priority projects, pending approval from their Board of Education.

Currently, Sunnyvale SD facilities projects are funded through the passage of local bond measure GG, Developer Fees, and their General Maintenance Fund (rough estimates of those funding sources are provided below).  A portion of Measure GG has been allocated to the reconstruction of Ellis Elementary School, however the remainder can be allocated to projects identified within the Facilities Master Plan, in accordance and alignment with the bond language.

At present, the District has approximately $75,300,000 that could be allocated to school facility improvements, however it is not recommended that 100% of the available funding be promised to projects.  It is recommended to reserve 1/3 of the total available funding so that it may cover escalation (as projects roll out over time), interim housing costs, off-site issues and other unknowns, and to be used as an overall program contingency.

Multiple opportunities for public input were provided throughout the process.

Principal Survey

Teacher & Staff Survey

In December 2020, an online survey was distributed to all teachers and staff. Similar to the Principal survey, the questions focused on the existing functionality of the facilities and asked respondents to rate their top priorities for existing spaces that require the greatest amount of improvement as well as their top priorities for new spaces or enhancements.

Student Survey

An online survey was distributed to students in the 4^th, 5^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and timing of virtual learning, 6^th graders were not included in this survey since they had not yet experienced in-person learning on their campus. This survey focused on the students’ preference for the spaces. Students were also asked what their top three choices would be if changes were made to their school and provided a list of options to select from.

Parent & Community Survey

An online survey was distributed to parents and other community members. This survey was available in English and Spanish. After a few initial questions to get to know the audience and their associated school site, respondents were asked to rank the functionality of select space types. The survey also asked participants to select their top priorities for potential improvement.

School Site Committees

Facilities Master Plan Committee Survey

At the final meeting of the FMPC in December 2021, members were presented the results of all other educational partner groups’ priorities. The FMPC then took part in two prioritization activities based on the scope of work categories District-wide and by individual school sites.

EDUCATIONAL PARTNER PRIORITIES

In order to find commonalities among user groups and sites, each educational partner group was asked to prioritize the needs of their site or the needs of the district as a whole. Detail for educational partner group responses is provided under the Outreach tab. Details for principal responses can be found in the Site Functionality Assessment. Priorities have been translated to the Scope of Work categories used to develop the cost estimate. Educational partner group priorities become data points for the Board of Education and District Leadership to consider when deciding future actions. One group’s priorities do not imply more weight or importance than another, but rather provides an alternative perspective.

Process

LPA presented the Draft FMP to the Board on February 17, 2022 to review the full Facilities Master Plan and develop an understanding of the Board’s priorities in relation to funding and input from the District and Educational Partners. Board discussion resulted in the following themes:

• Acknowledgment that Sunnyvale Middle School has the most remaining need
  • concern was expressed that the approach thus-far has primarily been implementing projects with a single-school focus. This has resulted in a large disparity for the school that is ‘last in line’.  Future considerations should work towards lessening or preventing this disparity from happening again.
• Address safety and security
  • update door locks at Sunnyvale Middle School
  • covered walkways
  • hardcourt improvements
  • paving improvements
  • electronic marquee upgrades
• HVAC projects at the following sites:
  • San Miguel / Juntos Elementary School
  • Vargas Elementary School
  • Fairwood Explorer Elementary School
  • Cumberland Elementary School
  • Sunnyvale Middle School

The Steering Committee convened on March 3, 2022 to develop a project list based on the feedback provided by the Board. In this meeting, LPA presented the Sunnyvale Middle School master plan as a series of project packages, each with costs pulled from the overall cost estimate. Also available for prioritization were the District-wide scopes previously discussed as potential priorities.

The Steering Committee creates a project list up to $75,000,000. A line is drawn at $50,000,000, marking the separation between projects that could be ‘promised’ (below the line) under the current funding model. Should savings be realized for these projects, those listed above the line could be implemented in the order they are prioritized.

Board-Approved Priority Projects

The Sunnyvale School District Board of Education approved the following projects for implementation on April 28, 2022 (beginning with the highest priority):

• HVAC Improvements at Cumberland, Fairwood, San Miguel/Juntos, and Vargas Elementary Schools
• HVAC Improvements at Sunnyvale Middle School
• Safety Improvements at All Sites excluding Sunnyvale Middle School (to the total of $3.1M. SMS improvements are embedded in other prioritized projects)
• New Classrooms at Sunnyvale Middle School and Removal of Portables
• Hardcourts and Fencing at Sunnyvale Middle School

Next priorities if funding is available from savings realized:

• Existing Classroom Enhancements at Sunnyvale Middle School
• Classroom Technology Upgrade Site-Wide at Sunnyvale Middle School
• Improvements to Athletics Spaces at Sunnyvale Middle School: Reconfigure Fitness Classroom, Build New Locker Rooms, Removal of Portables
• Parking and Drop-Off Enhancements at Sunnyvale Middle School
• Administration & Front Entry Improvements at Sunnyvale Middle School

Completed Projects List

Since the adoption of the original Facility Master Plan in 2022, we have made significant progress in
enhancing our school facilities to support student learning and well-being. Recent projects have
included major infrastructure improvements, such as HVAC and roof replacements, campus
modernizations, and outdoor space enhancements. These efforts have created more comfortable and
energy-efficient learning environments while also improving campus safety and accessibility.
Investments in technology, including digital marquees and security cameras, have strengthened
communication and security across our schools. Additionally, upgrades to food service infrastructure
and play areas have further supported student needs.

Looking ahead through 2025, we remain committed to continuing these improvements with exciting
projects on the horizon. Plans include the completion of a new two-story classroom building at
Sunnyvale Middle School, essential maintenance work at Cumberland Elementary, and the installation of
filtered water stations district-wide. Outdoor enhancements will also continue, with canopy
replacements at Cherry Chase and Vargas providing improved covered spaces for students and staff. These projects reflect our ongoing dedication to modernizing our campuses and ensuring high-quality
facilities for our school communities.

Completed Projects:

2022

Kindergarten Playground Improvement at Cherry Chase Elementary School – $1,800,000
HVAC Replacement at San Miguel Elementary School – $1,500,000
HVAC & Roof Replacement, and Exterior Improvement Project at Vargas Elementary School – $4,300,000

2023

Kindergarten Improvement at Select Campuses – $1,800,000
HVAC & Roof Replacement, and Exterior Improvements at Fairwood Elementary School – $3,400,000

2024

Digital Marquee Installation & Playground Improvements – $1,700,000
Play Court Improvements at Select Campuses – $823,000
Food Service Freezer Replacement – $990,000
Modernization at Ellis Elementary School – $55,000
Campus Security Cameras at Columbia Middle School – $34,000

Upcoming Projects List:

2025

2-Story Classroom Project at Sunnyvale Middle School – $41,000,000
Maintenance Project at Cumberland Elementary School – $6,000,000
Filtered Water Station Project District Wide – $250,000
Canopy Replacement at Cherry Chase Elementary School – $3,500,000
Canopy Replacement at Vargas Elementary School – $2,000,000 (estimated)

Our Equitable Approach

Our approach to project planning is rooted in equity, ensuring that bond funds are distributed across
multiple campuses rather than being concentrated on a single site. Following the direction of the Board
of Education, district staff have prioritized spreading modernization efforts to more schools, maximizing
the impact of our community’s investments, and addressing critical facility needs in a timely manner. To
accomplish this, we rely on facility needs data that we take and identify the campuses with the most
urgent infrastructure challenges, particularly those where key building systems and components are
nearing the end of their useful life. By taking a data-driven approach, we ensure that improvements are
directed to the schools that need them most, rather than relying on a rigid, one-size-fits-all
modernization schedule.

Once priority campuses are identified based on facility condition data, we apply the Board’s top
priorities—Restrooms & Power Access, Outdoor Learning Environments and Quads, Site-Wide
Modernization & Deferred Maintenance, and Exterior Play Spaces & Hardcourts—to develop a
targeted scope of work. This approach allows us to create rough budgets for the work and implement
improvements efficiently, ensuring that bond dollars go further and reach more students in a shorter
period of time. By prioritizing equity in our decision-making process, we are able to make meaningful
facility upgrades across multiple sites, rather than waiting for each campus to receive a comprehensive
modernization. This strategy not only accelerates the delivery of critical improvements but also ensures
that all students, regardless of which school they attend, benefit from enhanced learning environments
and upgraded campus infrastructure.

Portable Replacement Projects

Another approach SSD is taking in identifying and prioritizing projects is the replacement of aging
portable buildings with modern modular classrooms. This initiative is grounded in research, particularly
studies referenced in the California School Facilities Research Institute (CSFRI), which highlight the
downsides of portable classrooms on student attention and academic achievement. Research has shown
that traditional portables often present challenges related to air quality, temperature control, acoustics,
and overall learning conditions, which can hinder student engagement and performance. By replacing
these outdated structures with high-quality modular buildings, we aim to create a more conducive
learning environment that supports student success.

To fund this initiative, the district will utilize developer fee funds, as outlined in the Developer Fee
Justification Report adopted in 2024. This will be a multi-year effort, requiring careful planning and
phased implementation to systematically replace portables across multiple campuses. Currently, over 50
classrooms in Sunnyvale School District are housed in portable buildings, and our long-term goal is to
eliminate these instructional spaces wherever feasible. As we move forward, we will identify priority
campuses based on facility condition assessments, enrollment trends, and site-specific constraints to
ensure that resources are allocated efficiently.

October 24, 2024: Board Exercise

At the October 24th Board of Education meeting, we conducted a prioritization exercise to help guide
the next phase of our Facilities Master Plan implementation. The objective of this exercise was to
identify the top priorities of the Board, ensuring that our modernization efforts align with the most
pressing needs across the district. Each Board member was given 10 votes to allocate among the 17
predefined scopes of work (from the original FMP), with the flexibility to distribute their votes in a way
that reflected their individual priorities. Some Board members opted to concentrate their votes on a few key areas, while others spread their selections across multiple categories. This process provided valuable insight into the Board’s collective priorities and helped establish a clear direction for the district’s upcoming projects.

The outcome of the exercise highlighted four key areas for immediate focus:

• Building Systems – Restrooms & Power Access,
• Outdoor Learning Environments and Quads,
• Site-Wide Modernization & Deferred Maintenance, and
• Exterior Play Spaces & Hardcourts.

With these priorities in place, district staff began assessing which schools have the greatest need for these improvements, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and equitably. This prioritization serves as a foundation for project planning, allowing us to take a data-driven approach to facility improvements. Moving forward, our team will evaluate site conditions, infrastructure needs, and project feasibility to develop a strategic implementation plan that best supports student learning and overall campus functionality.

Cabinet and Site Administration Team Exercises

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure strategic decision-making in facility planning, we also conducted
prioritization exercises with both the Cabinet and Campus Leadership Teams earlier this year. These
exercises followed the same approach as the one conducted with the Board of Education, allowing each
participant/campus to distribute 10 votes among 17 identified scopes of work. The goal was to gain
insight into where each group believed the district’s resources and efforts should be focused. Highlighting
another lens in which we make sure to capture the needs of students, staff, and the broader school
community.

The results provided valuable perspectives on priorities. Cabinet members identified Site-Wide Modernization & Deferred Maintenance, Safety & Security, and Student Support as their top three areas of focus, emphasizing the importance of long-term facility improvements, campus safety, and resources that directly impact student success. Meanwhile, the Campus Leadership Teams prioritized Building Systems: Restrooms & Power Access, Site- Wide Modernization & Deferred Maintenance, and Safety & Security, highlighting a strong focus on essential infrastructure upgrades and overall campus safety. These insights were shared with the Board prior to their exercise at the October Board meeting.

Proposed Campus Projects

The proposed project list below is grounded in our commitment to equity, ensuring that every campus
receives the necessary improvements based on its unique needs. These projects have been carefully
identified to address critical facility upgrades, whether it is bringing an existing site up to the standards
and expectations of Sunnyvale School District or replacing multiple building components that have
reached the end of their useful life. By prioritizing need over uniform distribution, we are ensuring that
all students and staff benefit from safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments. This list
represents the next 3-4 years of planned investments, aligning with our long-term vision for sustainable
and equitable facility improvements across the district.

Lakewood Elementary School:
Preliminary Scope: Refurbishment of the existing TK/K playground space to be in line with the other
elementary school campuses. New age-appropriate playground apparatuses, shade structure, blacktop
re-coating, and fencing. Replacement of two existing portable buildings with modular construction.

• Preliminary budget: $3,000,000

Cherry Chase Elementary School:
Preliminary Scope: Replacement of existing roofing, window systems, lighting, flooring, fire alarm
system, hardcourts, and restroom finishes. Construction of new outdoor learning environments &
quads, as well as the replacement of existing portables with modular construction.

• Preliminary budget: $20,000,000

Columbia Middle School:
Preliminary Scope: Replacement of existing roofing, interior lighting, flooring, campus fire alarm, and
campus-wide HVAC. We will also take this time to design and construct an all-access restroom location
and replace portables onsite.

• Preliminary budget: $23,000,000

Cumberland Elementary School:
Preliminary Scope: Removal and replacement of existing portable classrooms that are currently
classrooms 19-25.

• Preliminary Budget: $5-$6,000,000

Bond Measure Expenditures

As part of the 2025 update we are providing a comprehensive overview of the expenditures from our
other successful bond measures—Measure P (2004; $120M), Measure G (2013; $96M), and Measure GG
(2018; $100M)—to ensure full transparency and accountability in how these funds have been utilized to
support our schools. These bond measures have been instrumental in modernizing and improving our
district’s facilities, addressing critical infrastructure needs, enhancing learning environments, and
ensuring that our students and staff have access to safe, high-quality educational spaces. By showcasing
the allocation of funds across various campuses, we aim to demonstrate our commitment to responsible
financial stewardship and strategic planning, reinforcing the tangible benefits that these investments
have brought to our school communities.

Measure C

With a projected remaining budget of $151,000,000, District staff has started outlining the next 3-4
years of projects based on our approach from equity coupled with the Boards priorities.

*Amounts are estimations and more defined scopes of work and budgets will be developed throughout
the planning phase.

Maintenance Contributions

One of Sunnyvale School District’s key financial commitments is maintaining and investing in our
facilities through our Routine Restricted Maintenance Account (RRMA). Since 2021, SSD has strategically
utilized RRMA funds to support project costs, ensuring that our bond dollars are maximized and
continue to serve the district for years to come. This approach reflects our dedication to being
responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while preserving and improving our school facilities.