New High School In East Dublin: Superintendent Shares Update

DUBLIN, CA — A new high school slated for the corner of Central Parkway and Chancery Lane in Dublin is moving forward, according to an update Tuesday from Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Dave Marken. Although the district has not broken ground at the site, and many things must still take place before construction can begin, a fall 2022 opening is the goal.

One of the hurdles the district has yet to overcome is acquiring the property for the 24-acre campus. However, the eminent domain process is underway and is expected to be resolved by year's end, Marken said in his message to DUSD families, staff and the community.

In fall of 2018, the district made an offer to purchase the property from its current owner but there was disagreement on price, according to Marken. The district then filed its eminent domain lawsuit in October 2018.

The district and the property owner have a settlement conference scheduled November 14, 2019. If the parties can't settle on a purchase price, the matter will go to trial December 9, 2019, Marken said. At that point, a jury would decide the property value.

"In short, the process of acquiring the land is nearing completion," Marken said. "It has never been a question of 'if' we can acquire the land via eminent domain, rather 'when.'"

Over two dozen planning meetings with students, staff, the city and the community have taken place over the last 12 months regarding the new comprehensive high school. The campus is slated to accommodate approximately 2,500 students and would be built in two phases. The projected fall 2022 opening would accommodate about 1,308 students at the site; phase two, which has a yet-to-be-determined completion date, would accommodate the remaining 1,237 students, according to Marken.

Phase one will cost approximately $166.6 million. Of that amount, $135 million will be funded by Measure H. The remaining $31 million will be funded through various sources, including state reimbursement due from the construction of J.M. Amador Elementary School, existing developer fees, and developer fees received if the At Dublin project is approved, according to Marken.

Phase two will cost approximately $102.2 million and the district is anticipating it would be funded by a future bond measure, Marken said.

At the upcoming Oct. 22 DUSD Board of Trustees meeting, details on putting together a naming committee will likely be decided. The naming committee will make recommendations to the board on school colors, logo, mascot and other branding items, according to Marken.

Under California law, an Environmental Impact Report is required for the project (law mandates that public agencies disclose impacts their projects may have on the environment). The public is welcome to submit comments that focus on the potential environmental impacts of the proposed new project. Currently, the public may submit comments on the proposed scope and content of the future draft EIR. All feedback is due by October 30, 2019, at 5 p.m. and can be submitted in one of two ways:

By Mail:

Chris Stevens, Chief Facilities Operations Officer
Dublin Unified School District
7471 Larkdale Avenue, Dublin, CA 94568
By Email:
dusdceqa@dublinusd.org
Subject Line: “Future DUSD Comprehensive High School Project EIR”

Once the public comment period ends, the district will prepare and publish a draft EIR for public review and comment. The public will then have a 45-day window to comment.

Marken clarified that although construction vehicles have been spotted on the future high school site, they are not involved with the DUSD's development plan.