The long-debated future of Mill Valley Middle School is finally coming into focus. After years of environmental review, neighborhood debate, and plenty of online sparring, the Mill Valley School District has committed nearly half of its Measure G bond to a sweeping modernization of the campus atop Sycamore Avenue.
For families from Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, and beyond who keep an eye on Marin County school facilities, this project will reshape how local students learn for decades.
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Mill Valley Middle School Modernization Moves Forward
The Mill Valley school board voted unanimously to approve a plan to invest about $95 million in renovating Mill Valley Middle School, located at 425 Sycamore Ave.
The money comes from Measure G, a $194 million bond that voters across Mill Valley and nearby Marin County neighborhoods approved in 2022, with the middle school as its top priority.
With the board’s vote, trustees also certified the final environmental impact report. That move clears the last major regulatory hurdle.
Construction should begin by June, with full completion anticipated in 2029. Folks from San Rafael to Novato are watching this timeline, especially education leaders eyeing similar efforts.
Measure G: How Voters Are Funding the Project
Measure G aims to tackle aging classrooms, outdated infrastructure, and repairs that have been put off too long across the Mill Valley School District.
While schools from Homestead Valley to Tam Valley will see some benefit, the middle school project in central Mill Valley stands as the single largest investment.
The district’s plan uses roughly half of the Measure G funds to:
Interim Classrooms and a Phased Construction Plan
To keep the educational program running for families from Mill Valley, Strawberry, and nearby communities, the district will use a phased construction schedule.
The goal is to maintain continuity for students while working around an active construction site. Not easy, but doable.
Portable Classrooms by Late 2026
The approved plan calls for portable interim classrooms to be installed on or near the Sycamore Avenue campus.
Students and staff are expected to move into these temporary facilities by December 2026, where they’ll remain during the estimated two-year main construction period.
District officials say this approach avoids the need to bus students to other sites in places like San Anselmo or Fairfax. It keeps the school community centered in Mill Valley, close to downtown, the Miller Avenue corridor, and nearby neighborhoods.
Environmental Concerns: Landfill History and Long-Term Risk
The most intense debate, both in Mill Valley and in online circles across Marin County, has focused on the school’s environmental history.
The campus sits on a former landfill capped with clay in the early 1970s, a fact that still sparks worry among some residents.
MVMS Modernization Mess and the Environmental Debate
An activist group called MVMS Modernization Mess, led by Chris Bailey, keeps up a steady drumbeat of opposition.
Bailey argues the school’s location could pose long-term risks, pointing to concerns about:
Bailey’s online petition urging the district to restart its environmental analysis and consider relocating the school has gathered about 150 signatures. Supporters come not just from Mill Valley but also from places like Greenbrae and Belvedere.
State Oversight and Safety Measures
In response to these concerns, the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) reviewed the site’s environmental profile.
The DTSC generally accepted a revised preliminary endangerment assessment. They concluded that the current conditions at Mill Valley Middle School are safe for students and staff—a finding noted by environmental professionals from San Rafael to Ross.
Monitoring, Mitigation and Long-Term Oversight
Even while declaring the site safe, the DTSC recommended several layers of ongoing protection. The district agreed to all of the following:
These steps are meant to provide a safety net for current Mill Valley students, and for future generations coming from communities throughout southern Marin, including Sausalito and Tiburon.
Community Support and Vision for the Future
While the opposition remains vocal, a competing petition in support of the renovation has amassed more than 700 signatures from district residents.
Many parents from neighborhoods across Mill Valley, from Alto to Cascade Canyon, argue that modern, safe facilities are overdue and that Measure G is the right tool at the right time.
Modern Facilities with a STEM Focus
District leaders say this project will deliver a much-improved learning environment. There’s a new STEM building on the way, plus modernized classrooms.
They keep talking about fiscal responsibility, student safety, and academic excellence. The idea is to help Mill Valley Middle School stay competitive with top public schools around Marin County, from Kentfield to Novato.
As construction ramps up, people in Mill Valley—and honestly, much of Marin—are paying attention. What happens at 425 Sycamore Ave. could shape the daily lives of local middle schoolers and maybe even set an example for other Marin districts dealing with old facilities and community skepticism while aiming for future-ready schools.
Here is the source article for this story: Trustees OK Mill Valley Middle School renovation
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