Mill Valley breaks ground on new middle school

After years of planning, a major renovation project is underway at Mill Valley Middle School.

Educators and public officials gathered at the Sycamore Avenue campus for a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday.

The event marked a milestone in the four years since voters approved Measure G, a $194 million bond to finance construction at the middle school and modernization work at the district's five elementary schools.

The district followed that success with the passage of the Measure E parcel tax on June 2. With a starting rate of $1,754 a year, plus 5% annual increases during the eight-year term, the tax will raise about $15 million a year to support staff salaries and core academic programs.

"Measure G has given us the resources to transform our school facilities, including this campus," Natalie Katz, the president of the district board, said during the ceremony. "And Measure E ensures that when our students walk through those doors, they are met with the programs and teachers they deserve. One builds the environment, and the other sustains the excellence that happens inside it."

"Community support for public education in Mill Valley is a tradition that is alive and well," she said.

Contractors with Flint Builders of Roseville were scheduled to set up fencing around the staff parking area on Friday. Next, crews will spend eight weeks on ground work and excavation to install the utilities and foundations for 29 portable buildings.

The portables, which will arrive in late September or early October, will form an 18,000-square-foot interim campus for middle school students starting in late January. The campus will include 17 classrooms, six science rooms, a library, an administration building and four restrooms.

Justin Graham, site supervisor for Flint, said he expects the renovation work to start in late March or early April. The improvements will include fire and accessibility upgrades and a full conversion to electric energy.

The district has approved a $415,000 contract for Van Pelt Construction Services of Fairfield to manage the project and other Measure G work.

"We're so proud of the work that's about to begin," Mayor Max Perrey said at the ceremony. "And the incredible dedication that the teachers, the administrators and the school board have for the future of education."

Mill Valley Middle School, which encompasses about 79,000 square feet, was built in 1971 atop a former municipal landfill and burn area. The landfill was capped with clay, but because of its history, the site has required extensive studies and regulatory review by local and state agencies. A long-term mitigation plan is being set up to ensure the campus remains safe.

The district trustees certified the final environmental impact report for the project in December. Later they approved an amendment to the EIR to accommodate impacts of the renovation.

Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters praised the "hard work and persistence" it took to get to this point.

"The modernization of Mill Valley Middle School required collaboration among the school district, the county agencies, regulatory agencies, elected officials, parents, teachers and community members," she said at the ceremony. "Along the way, there were complex issues to resolve and really important decisions to make. Thank you all."

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 12:22 PM.