Welcome to the update webpage for the new Cosumnes River Elementary School.  We will be using this webpage to share information with the community regarding the new school.

The current Cosumnes River Elementary School was built in the 1940’s as a small rural elementary school.  As the community surrounding the school has grown, so too has the need for more classrooms and core instructional facilities for a larger campus.
 
To meet that demand, the Elk Grove Unified School District has executed an option agreement for the purchase of 15 acres adjacent to the current four-acre site.  The additional land will give the district the opportunity to build a new school to replace the current facility. 

For the past several months the district has been conducting due diligence studies and activities before the land can be purchased.  To date, this process has moved smoothly and according to plan. Once the due diligence is complete, the district will move forward with the purchase of the property and the establishment of a construction timeline.

A task force comprised of Principal Michael Gulden, 22 teachers, staff, parents, soon-to-be parents and community members has been formed to discuss the options for housing students during construction.   The task force will make a recommendation to the Elk Grove Unified School District’s Board of Education based on their findings. 

The EGUSD Board of Education and administration remain committed to building a new school for the families of this community.

:: MARK YOUR CALENDAR ::

We are very pleased to announce that we plan to begin our school year on time on August 17, 2009 right here at CRES. If there is a change to this, you will be notified immediately.

We will hold our Back to School Night on Thursday, August 13 at 5:30 PM. This is prior to the start of the school year. For those of you who want to get ahead on school supplies, for grades 1-6, you may also look at our school’s website on the staff page for lists of school materials your child may need to start the year.

We appreciate your patience this summer. It is an exciting time to be a Roadrunner. We look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer.

Answers to Your Questions about the CRES New School Project and Contingency Plan

1)  What is the new school construction contingency plan I’ve been reading about in the Roadrunner?  Our plan is to remain on our current campus for the 2009-2010 school year while construction of the new facility takes place behind us.  However, since construction can be unpredictable, we have a back up plan.  The “new school contingency plan” is our back up plan in the event some unforeseen circumstance makes it unsafe for children to remain on the current campus during part or all of the construction.  If we need to implement the contingency plan, we have already divided our campus into two K-6 groups which would be split amongst two campuses in the EGUSD.  Under the plan, our students may share recesses and lunches with their host school, however our class sections will remain separate CRES classes.

2)  What does the construction project look like over the next 15 months?  During the week after school gets out, you will be seeing the property staked and prepared for the movement of lots of earth.  This will begin Phase One of our new school construction project - the grading of the land for the new school - and will take place over the summer, 2009.  Phase Two, the construction of the new school structures and the Kiefer/Jackson Road realignment, will take place between September 2009 and August, 2010.  Phase three, the demolition of our current campus facility and the completion of our playground/ playing field area, will take place during the fall of 2010. 

3)  How will we be notified if the start of school is delayed or if the contingency plan is to be implemented?  Our New School Task Force worked on a plan for this.  The Facilities and Planning and Elementary Education Departments will be providing the school board with twice monthly progress updates beginning in mid-June.  The board will also be informed by the beginning of August if there is reason for us to delay the start of the school year or to implement our contingency plan.   We will provide the community with updates via our school website at http://www.egusd.net/cosumnes/updates.html.  The school will also contact families via telephone and a letter will be mailed home if there is a change to the start date or if we need to implement our contingency plan.

4)  Where can I find the latest news on the progress of the new school?  Progress updates related to issues that may have an impact on the education of students will be available at our school website at http://www.egusd.net/cosumnes/updates.html.

5)  How will the classrooms be set up in our new facility?  Plans for our new school include a two story classroom building with 22 classrooms.  While the actual configuration for teachers and grade levels has not been determined, we will likely use the second floor classrooms for older students and the lower floor for our younger students.  Kindergartners will have their own buildings and so will not be housed in the two story building.

6)  Will the school name stay the same?  Yes, our school name will remain Cosumnes River Elementary School.

7)  Will the new school have a playground when it opens?  When we move into the new facility our regular playground will be under construction so we will use a temporary blacktop area next to the two-story classroom building until the real playground has been installed.

8)  Why is the Highway 16 schedule almost 1 year long?  The construction along Highway 16 and the realignment of Keifer Boulevard are part of Phase Two of the construction project which also includes the construction of the school facility itself.  This Phase is scheduled to take place between September 2009 and August 2010.  The realigned Keifer Boulevard and the 4-way signalized intersection that will be at the new intersection will not be operational until the summer of 2010.

9)  Will buses be provided in 09-10?  Yes, bus transportation will be provided to CRES students free of charge for the 2009-2010 school year.  Our school is the only school in the district where transportation is provided at no cost.  This is due to the lack of parking on our current site.  This will change upon the opening of the new school when we will have more than 165 parking spaces.

10)  How will buses work if we implement the contingency plan?  Transportation under the contingency plan will work just as it does now.  Our buses would pick up and drop off at the same bus stops we currently use. 

11)  How did you decide who goes where? Can I change teachers to get the school of my choice?  Class placements have been made using a process similar to what we’ve done in the past.  The most notable difference is that we’ve organized our classes into two “tracks.”  Each track represents a K-6 group of students and teachers who would each go to a different site (currently Fite and Sunrise Elementary Schools) should we be forced to implement the contingency plan.  The number one priority has been to align siblings at a single site.  Whenever possible, children with a common daycare picking up at school were also placed at single sites.  Due to this, parents will not be able to choose which site their child will attend if we have to use our contingency plan.

12)  What will happen to the YMCA if we go into contingency mode?  Each school site has on campus daycare.  We have not made specific arrangements for the YMCA daycare should the contingency go into effect.  The school and YMCA will be working on a plan and families will be notified.

13)  Will there be any programs on the CRES campus over the summer?  No, all campus programs have been moved or cancelled for the summer.  Camp Invention will be held at Dillard Elementary School.  Summer Library and YMCA Summer Programs have been cancelled for the summer due to the massive earth movement that will be taking place during that time.

May Update

Bids for the construction of the new school are due on May 12 with Phase 1 of the construction project—the grading of the property and the movement of lots of earth—scheduled to begin on Friday, June 5, the day after school is dismissed.    

We plan to be here on campus for the 2009-2010 school year while Phase 2 of the project—the construction of the new school—takes place behind us. An “If Only” contingency plan will be in place in the event that unforeseeable circumstances require us to move from campus for the start of the school year.  Though the overwhelming likelihood is that we will not need to implement this contingency plan in which case we will simply proceed with the 09-10 school year right here on our current campus, we’ve already begun our work making sure that the transition to the new school year is a smooth one.

April Update

On April 1, escrow closed on the purchase of about 17.5 acres of property for the new Cosumnes River Elementary School. This means that the district has taken title to the property for the new school.

With this hurdle now cleared, the CRES community can now look forward to the next steps in the development of our long awaited new school. Phase 1 of the construction project-the grading of the property and the movement of lots of earth-will begin on Friday, June 5, the day after school is dismissed.

The current plan is to be on campus for the 2009-2010 school year while Phase 2 of the project-the construction of the new school-takes place. A contingency plan will be in place in the event that unforeseeable circumstances require us to move from campus for the start of the school year.

March 30, 2009 - Current Site Plan

Please click on graphic to enlarge.

February 17, 2009 Board of Education Meeting Update

At the February 17, 2009, Board of Education meeting the Board approved the agreement for the purchase of about 17.5 acres of property for the new Cosumnes River Elementary School. With the Board's approval, an escrow account will open. Escrow is anticipated to close by the end of March culminating in the District taking title to the property for the new Cosumnes River Elementary School.

February Update on New School Construction

Plans to build the new Cosumnes River Elementary School continue on schedule. The following steps have been taken towards construction of the new school:

On January 20, 2009, the EGUSD Board of Education certified the Final Environmental Impact Report, satisfying California Environmental Quality Act requirements.

On February 6, 2009, the district exercised the option to purchase the property.

On February 17, 2009, the EGUSD Board of Education will be asked to approve the purchase agreement. Escrow will open shortly thereafter, beginning the process to take title to the property.

The district continues to work with the County of Sacramento and Cal Trans to attain the permits required for the realignment of Keifer Road and to construct the improvements to Highway 16. This includes the new four-way signalized intersection at the access point for the new school.

December 9, 2008, Board of Education Meeting Update

On December 9, 2008, the Elk Grove Board of Education approved the recommendation of the Cosumnes River Elementary Task force for CRES students to remain on site during construction.  The recommendation includes a contingency plan.

The contingency plan will be dependent on construction progress over the summer.  If construction over the summer does not go as planned, the Board of Education will be asked to decide by August 1, 2009, whether the start of school should be delayed or if the students should be moved to other school sites.

If students were to be moved to other school sites, the CRES classes would be split in half – Kindergarten through 6th grade.  In that case, CRES classes would be moved to Robert Fite Elementary and Sunrise Elementary where they would operate separately from the host school site.  Principal Michael Gulden would split his time between the two sites.  EGUSD would provide transportation.

The Board also approved a parent opt-out option.   In February, CRES parents will receive a letter of intent for their student to remain enrolled at CRES.  The letter of intent will include: the components of the construction process; information about the contingency plan; and alternative school site choices for parents who wish to opt out of CRES during construction.   The letter will provide parents an opportunity to indicate whether they intend for their student to remain with CRES during construction or if they would prefer that their child attend an alternative school.

It is important to note that parents who opt-out will retain their original CRES registration date.  The schools under consideration for alternative choices include:  Arnold Adreani Elementary, Ellen Feickert Elementary, Robert J. Fite Elementary, Sunrise Elementary, Florence Markofer Elementary, James McKee Elementary and Sierra Enterprise Elementary.  EGUSD will not provide transportation to parents who opt-out.

I know that there are many rumors floating about.  Please do not hesitate to call me or one of our Task Force members if you have any questions.  We will gladly bring you up to speed with the most recent information. 

November 18, 2008  |  Board of Education Meeting Update

On November 18, 2008, the Task Force’s recommendation was presented to the Board of Education as a report. The report can be viewed below. The Board of Education will be asked to take action on the recommendation at their December 9, 2008, meeting.

Link to the report (.pdf)

New School Task Force
Findings and Recommendation-November

CRES Multi-Purpose Room- November 5, 6:30 p.m.

To review and provide an opportunity for comment on our task force findings and recommendations as well as to provide an update on the progress toward our new CRES facility.

 In summary, the task force findings are:

1) There is overwhelming support from parents, staff, and students for remaining at the current CRES facility during construction if at all possible.

2) Consider flexible scheduling options for the daily and year-long schedule, as well as flexible construction schedules to allow students to remain on current campus during construction

3) If construction issues require a temporary relocation of students, the following should be considered:

A. Keep kindergarteners as close to RM/Sloughhouse as possible

B. Limit bus travel time to 30 minutes each way

C. Seek a single location to relocate all students if available

D. If single location is not available, keep families together by creating K-6 or 1-6 groupings.

I would like to thank all the task force members who volunteered many hours to the responsibility of representing our school community.  The task force was convened to look into the issue of housing our children during the construction of the new CRES and to make a recommendation to the EGUSD Board of Education.  The Board will take this information into consideration, along with input from consultants, Facilities Department, Elementary Education, and other sources before making a final decision.

August 19, 2008  |  Board of Education Meeting Update

At the August 19, 2008, Board of Education meeting, a schematic plan of the new school site was presented to board members for their review.  The board will be asked to approve the preliminary schematic plan pending CEQA certification for the new Cosumnes River Elementary School at the September 2, 2008, board meeting.

The design includes a two-story classroom building, a library at the center of the campus, a 165-space parking lot, additional overflow parking, drop-off and pick-up lanes and playing fields in the area that is the current school site.  The plan also includes an intersection at the realigned Kiefer Road.

CRES - Schematic Master Plan

Please click on graphic to enlarge.

December:

Work continues at a rapid pace as the weather has been extremely cooperative so far. While I‘d love to see the pace of work continue, I also know that we need the rain that will eventually come. It is with this in mind that the walls and roofs are going up so that the buildings will be watertight during the winter. This will allow interior work to take place when weather conditions prohibit work outside.

At the moment, the project is slightly ahead of schedule. Paving of the driveway and parking area is largely complete, along with some of the paving of the Kiefer realign-ment. The classroom building, a two story structure that will be home to 24 1st through 6th grade classrooms next year, has quickly become the construction focal point. The installation of the steel frame for this building, as well as the column forms, is well un-derway. The multi-purpose room, the last major campus building to begin framing, is visible behind the relocated oak tree and now boasts a nearly walled-off kitchen and the trusses that will soon support its roof. Exterior work continues on the library, kin-dergarten, and administration buildings.

I want to thank those of you who have approached me with construction-related ques-tions and concerns. Your thoughts and suggestions have been helpful during this process. Please do not hesitate to call me with additional questions as they pop up.