The Portola Valley School District will meet this evening (Dec. 5) to take preliminary steps in the long process to implement a bond measure that will finance projects to repair and rebuild aging and leaky buildings at its two schools.

The $49.5 million bond measure - ballot Measure Z - passed last month; unofficial election results show that nearly 62.5 percent of voters supported the measure.

"We're excited that it passed and that we can now move forward with hiring firms and setting timelines and deadlines for our renovations and projects," wrote school board president Gulliver LaValle in an email.

At today's meeting, the board will discuss its approach to picking a finalist for the position of bond manager on Dec. 19. The district began screening candidates for that position on Tuesday. It will conduct interviews of candidates on Dec. 10 and 12.

Once a bond manager is chosen, the district plans to begin screening for a project architect. Interviews are planned for Jan. 8.

The district plans to establish a bond oversight committee at its Jan. 16 meeting. It plans to establish bylaws for the committee at the time.

At today's meeting, the board will discuss recruiting a district parent, a parent active in a district group, a resident active in a local business organization, a resident active in a taxpayer organization and two other community members to sit on the oversight committee, which must have at least seven members.

The board plans to adopt a resolution issuing the bonds on Feb. 6.

High-priority projects at Corte Madera School (4-8) include a new two-story classroom building, which would cost between $38.4 and $42.5 million, according to a facilities master plan. There are $10.9 million to $12 million projects included as immediate priorities at Ormondale School.

The measure adds a maximum of $300 per $1 million of assessed valuation to property tax bills. The measure needed approval by 55 percent of voters in the district to pass.

The board meets in the Annex Building at Corte Madera School, 4575 Alpine Road in Portola Valley, at 5 p.m.

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