GALT, CA (MPG) - Valley Oaks Elementary School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 2, giving students the honor of cutting the ribbon for a new building that will serve third-grade teachers and their students.

As the oldest elementary campus in the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District, Valley Oaks is now home to a modern structure that replaces portables that had been on site for decades, Principal David Nelson said during the event.

The 4,200 square-foot, four-classroom building stands at the center of campus with dark green and dusty orange details that tie into the school’s existing look. Construction began in March and finished ahead of schedule, Nelson said.

At the district meeting on March 19, it was confirmed that the project to replace the portables with a permanent building would be funded with state facility funds and developer fees, totaling more than $3.6 million.

School district staff and board members attended the ceremony, along with representatives from the architect and construction company that led the project.

 

Third-graders line up outside the new classroom building that was unveiled Dec. 2 at Valley Oaks Elementary. 

“For our students, especially, the ribbon-cutting is symbolic of a new beginning and something new and exciting for the school,” Nelson said. “So inviting them and having them be part of the process was something we wanted to do from the beginning.”

Nelson said the most significant improvement will be reliable heating and air conditioning, which the older buildings struggled to provide.

“The previous building was so old that we had consistent issues with heating and air conditioning so being able to have consistency with that is probably number one for teachers and for students,” Nelson said.

The new building is the second permanent structure that the school has added in recent years, a notable upgrade for the nearly 60-year-old campus, Nelson added.

Mariana Alvarez-Parga, principal at 19six Architects, which specializes in school construction, said that her team designed the building to emphasize natural light, openness and a layout that blends with the existing campus.

 

Here is the exterior of Valley Oaks Elementary’s new classroom building located at the school site’s center. 

“One of my proudest moments as an architect is actually days like this,” Alvarez-Parga said. “Working with the school district was very exciting for us because it’s a way of giving to the community. We know how important and how much time students spend here at schools.”

District Superintendent Lois Yount thanked students, staff and the community for their support and flexibility throughout the construction process. She also acknowledged the work of the architect and construction team, S+B James Construction, who completed the project early and within budget.

“Valley Oaks is one of our oldest elementary schools, almost 60 years old. Research shows that when you invest in your facilities and your staff, students feel like they have a safe, clean, modern place to work and learn that they excel at higher rates,” Yount said.

Well-maintained campuses also help preserve property values and strengthens the community’s confidence with the school district, Yount added.

This project did not rely on bond funding, Yount said. However, she credited the community for supporting Measure H, the $27-million school improvement bond passed last year. She said the district is partnering with 19six on a planned modernization of the Valley Oaks administration building, which will be supported by the bond.

 

Pictured is the inside of one of the classrooms unveiled during the Dec. 2 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Valley Oaks Elementary.  

Nelson said that project, expected next year, will feature an expansion of the administration office and will include a staff break room, a conference room and a workroom for teachers.

“A lot of exciting things that are happening physically at the school and what’s really nice is that it mirrors a lot of exciting growth that is happening academically with our students as well,” Nelson said.