$95 Million Middle School Overhaul To Shift Mill Valley Students To Interim Campus

MILL VALLEY, CA — City Council received an update at their June meeting on a planned $95 million renovation of Mill Valley Middle School that will move students to an interim campus of 29 portable classrooms starting in January 2027.

Mill Valley Superintendent Elizabeth Kaufman told council members the district expected to begin heavy construction work after school ends on June 15, starting with excavation and off‑hauling about 13,000 cubic yards of soil from the staff parking lot and basketball courts north of Ryan Creek.

She said the project would replace aging infrastructure, update interior and exterior spaces and address fire, life safety and accessibility.

Contractors from Flint Builders said the goal was to complete major excavation and capping work by mid‑August, pour foundations through early fall and install portables between September and December.

The interim campus is planned to include administrative space, a library, six science classrooms, 17 general classrooms and four restroom buildings, all connected by elevated decking and ramps.

Council members wanted a focus on traffic congestion, safety and neighborhood impacts.

Vice Mayor Caroline Joachim said she wanted a strong communication plan with families and neighbors before the school year.

“We should be communicating to the community as much as possible with respect to what's happening and what to expect, and then maybe what to avoid,” Joachim said.

Councilmember Urban Carmel urged the district to use the project as a chance to increase the share of students walking and biking.

“In the city, we are trying very hard to increase the number of kids that walk and bike to school,” Carmel said. “This is just a great opportunity for kids to get in the good habit of riding their bike to school [and] walking to school.”

District officials said they had secured key environmental approvals for work on the former landfill site and would station environmental professionals on site daily to monitor air quality and safety during excavation.