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Published on 12/15/1999 All articles from this issue

State approves architectural plans for local high schools

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By Melissa Leavitt / Town Crier Staff Writer

Mountain View and Los Altos high schools recently received some good news from the state. The California state architect finally approved the schools' plans for new libraries, cafeterias, multipurpose rooms and quads at both schools.

Just last month, the State Architect's Office rejected the submitted plans, citing their inability to meet the requirements set by the American Disabilities Act. The state claimed that the auditorium, an intended feature of the multipurpose room, did not provide enough wheelchair-accessible seating.

The school district appealed the decision and received word earlier this month that their efforts were successful. The state architect approved the design plan as submitted.

The original design for the buildings provided wheelchair seating at the left and right ends of the front and back of the auditoriums. The initial response of the state architect was to require additional seating in the middle of the auditoriums.

The school district maintained that its design included enough seating to meet ADA regulations. "Our number of handicapped seats actually exceeds the requirement," commented Associate Superintendent Robyn Phillips.

Adding wheelchair seats in the middle of the auditorium would have entailed a complete overhaul of the buildings' design. "It would have required us to redesign several portions of the buildings," she explained. "We are delighted to have that obstacle out of the way."

The only changes that remain for the schools' designs are minor modifications.

Phillips expects the state to give their final stamp of approval as early as January.

After the district receives final approval for the plans, it will begin receiving construction bids in late February.

Construction should begin in March.

The high schools plan to open the doors to their new buildings in Fall of 2001.

Their construction is part of the $58 million bond measure passed by voters to upgrade the district's facilities.