As of September 2025, the District is considering two alternatives: (1) Renovate the Middle School at its current site, or (2) build a new Middle School at the Terra Marin Lomita campus, while leaving the Enda Maguire Elementary School fully in place at its current size.
But, as discussed in the linked page below, it is premature to decide between these. Key information is still missing that could render the renovation option economically infeasible.
District’s Proposed Alternatives
A Better Idea
Permanent Middle School at Edna + relocation of Edna students
The EIR dismisses this idea, but it uses obsolete enrollment data. Using current data, it is easily feasible!
Q: Why is this worth considering? What is your positive vision for the future? Why would this plan be better than the Renovation option?
Q: To determine if it is feasible to relocate all of the Edna students to the District’s other excellent elementary sites, we need to know the enrollment figures. What does MVSD report for enrollment?
In analyzing and summarily discarding this option, the EIR relies on the 2024-25 enrollment projections set forth in the 2021 Master Facilities Plan (see footnote to EIR Appendix pdf page 307, which says “Note: student count from FMP projections for 24-25”). That’s very confusing, so let’s break it down—rather than look at actual 2025 enrollment numbers or recent trends, the EIR travels back in time to 2021 to determine what people back then thought enrollment in 2025 might be.
This matters, because those higher figures are relied upon to explain why this option is ostensibly not feasible. If we look at the actual numbers, and even other figures elsewhere in the EIR, this option becomes easily feasible.
Here are the various numbers from the District, which are all over the map. This is another example of the District not taking the time to measure twice before cutting once, thus leaping to a conclusion based on bad data.
In one place, the EIR assumes there are about 600 students to disperse from Edna, saying it would be about 150 students added to the 4 other elementary sites. That is significantly more than the District’s own other Edna enrollment figures, which are as low as 377.
Elsewhere, the District FAQs says there are 428 students to disperse, and that Old Mill can take 61, Park can take 79, Strawberry could take 104, and Tam could take 154, leaving just 30 left! That is a really small delta, which surely is solvable! Here is that excerpt from the District’s FAQs:
Citations and Links:
Q: I’ve heard enrollment is down across the District. Is that true? What does 2025-26 enrollment data show?
That is definitely true! The 2021 Master Plan specifically recommends an updated, post-Covid enrollment study to revise projections done in 2021 (p. 35). No such study has been presented to the public. Regardless, current data clearly shows declining enrollment, even after the addition of TK classes.
Chart Data Sources:
2014-2015 enrollment date obtained from CA Dept of Education - Data Quest
2024-2025 enrollment data obtained from 2025-26 Board Enrollment Update
Target and Max Capacity data obtained from the 2021 Master Plan (p. 33)
Q: How many classrooms would each elementary site need to add to accommodate Edna students?
It is hard to tell, because this keys off enrollment numbers, which the District is not clearly reporting, as indicated above. But, to relocate Edna students, the District says would need to spread 25 classrooms across 4 other elementary sites. (EIR Appendix pdf page 311, but that portion of the Appendix assumes overly high enrollment figures).
Even assuming those higher enrollment figures, the District shows that surplus space at each elementary site, paired with a few new portables, could do the trick. (EIR Appendix pdf page 311):
Q: How would that look?
Pretty workable, and given enrollment figure discrepancies, they may not even need this many portables
Q: How would the site size at Edna compare to the current MVMS?
Building Square Footage. If MVMS moves to Edna, the plan would be to reuse the existing 75,000 sq. ft. of the Edna campus and construct a new 20,000 sq. ft. classroom building. (EIR pdf page 253). The total would thus be 95,000 sq. ft., which is comparable to the current MVMS that has an “existing 92,000 square foot (sq. ft.) main middle school building” (EIR pdf page 10).
Acreage.The current MVMS site is about 8 acres. (EIR pdf page135).The Edna site is about 9 acres (Master Plan page 74-84), so quite comparable.
Q: Where would that new MVMS building go?
Q: If MVMS moves to Edna, how many more students is that beyond what Edna was already designed to handle?
Edna is already designed to handle 679 students (2021 Master Plan, page 33). MVMS currently has about 697 students (2025-26 Board Enrollment Update). So, moving MVMS to Edna would add only about 18 more students than Edna is currently designed to accommodate. Of course, there would be a new building to expand capacity and various traffic mitigation measures, all of which is feasible.
Q: What does the EIR say about the traffic? Is there anything in the 2012 Settlement related to max enrollment permitted at that site?
“With this alternative, the traffic service levels at Lomita Drive and the school entrance and exit driveways would worsen because of the additional middle school students compared with the elementary students.” (EIR pdf page 258).
But again, the EIR is assuming inflated enrollment numbers. As noted above, this plan would only add about 18 students beyond what Edna is already designed to accommodate.
We requested and received a copy of the 2012 Settlement related to traffic concerns during the original Edna construction project. We are not linking to the Settlement given neighborhood sensitives, but we can confirm it does not contain anything about enrollment limits for future development.
Traffic and emergency egress is a legitimate concern with this plan. However, the scope of the problem has been exaggerated and other mitigation measures have not been explored in the EIR. In addition to bussing, for instance, there could be designated drop off points, from which students could walk or bike, or shuttles could run.
Q: Any last variations to consider?
Yes. If the District does not think it can fit the remaining handful of students from Edna at the other elementary sites, it could consider keeping a smaller version of Edna Elementary at the Terra Marin location. It would need to renovate that building, but this would allow the District to still serve that local neighborhood, while reducing the increases needed at the other elementary schools.
To Recap Relevant Criteria, all of which favor the above solution
When selecting a school site, whether permanent or temporary, the California Department of Education requires Districts to consider, among other things, the following criteria:
Safety - “These factors MUST be avoided”
Sites with contaminants/toxics in the soil or groundwater, such as from landfills and dumps.
Sites that are close to high-pressure lines, including sewer lines.
Environment - Sites should be free from:
Air, water, and soil pollution.
Dust and odors.
Soils
Sites shouldn’t have danger of liquefaction.
Size and Shape
Net acreage should be consisted with standards from California Department of Education.
Public Acceptance of the Proposed Site is also a factor