Campus library, kitchen could also get makeovers

ATASCADERO — In its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees got to see what a multipurpose room (MPR) could look like on the Atascadero High School campus, and how AHS’s current library and kitchen could be worked in with that.

The item was the first to be heard during the board’s Study Session, the concept that new Superintendent Dr. Tom Bennett introduced last month, where trustees discuss topics in a round-table format during the second meeting of each month. Tracy Ellis-Weit was absent from the meeting.

AUSD Director of Support Services Brant Loyd made the presentation, along with Kathryn Hicks of the RRM Design Group. Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Kendyl Darnell reminded the board that this was just an informational meeting to get feedback on the firm’s concepts, and the district would have to wait for another consultant’s report on the project moving forward to see what decision the board would make.

“Atascadero High School currently lacks an indoor, air-conditioned, multipurpose space,” Loyd said in starting the item. “This has come up often over the past several years, and challenge is we have no suitable venue for large gatherings, no place for students to have lunch, and inadequate kitchen facilities to meet the board’s desire for more scratch cooking.”

Loyd emphasized the designs were early-stage concepts and not final plans.

Hicks introduced herself and told the trustees she has been an architect and project manager specializing in educational facilities.

“It’s so fun to be able to work with our local school districts,” she said. “I enjoy planning these projects that I know friends and neighbors of mine, and their kids, will be using, and to have that impact on our local communities.”

Hicks went on to submit three different options for the board to consider, and the probable costs of each project.

Option 1 is putting the MPR in the current outdoor eating space on campus, and renovating the current kitchen and snack bar; the current library, which is 2 feet from the project site, would remain unchanged. Hicks estimated the construction cost at $7.4 million to $8.5 million.

Option 2 is demolishing the current snack bar and eating area, with a new MPR and kitchen, both connected, to replace it. Cost for that was estimated at $10.2 million to $11.8 million.

Option 3 would include a new MPR, kitchen, and library at the current site of the library, snack bar, and eating area. The locations of the buildings would be switched around from their current setup. Cost for that is estimated at $19.9 million to $22.9 million.

When the floor was open for questions, Board President Denise McGrew-Kane admitted the price tags, especially for Option 3, was hard to swallow and asked when they would get answers from their other consulting report, from Kitchell of San Luis Obispo. Loyd said they would be meeting with Kitchell on Friday, Sept. 19, and expected to finish that process by Oct. 31.

McGrew-Kane also asked if a new kitchen would be accessible for hospitality and culinary students, like at Morro Bay High School. Hicks said the concepts planned mainly for commercial use and supplying food for lunch breaks.

Trustee Vy Pierce noted that the MPR was projected to hold 300-400 people, which wouldn’t fit everyone at a 12,000-student campus. “Is there a way to accommodate everyone?” she asked. Loyd said there would be systemic changes made, and they would probably host all the members of a grade level for some events.

Pierce also asked if the project would be for state matching funds.

“We’ve done a good job of wringing, and there not a lot left in the towel, so there’s less availability,” Loyd said. “However, every project is eligible for state matching funds, and we can apply for some later in the process.” He noted that matching funds can be obtained retroactively.

Trustee Corinne Kuhnle said she was a fan of Option 3.

“I never imagined you switching the library and MPR, but it makes sense,” she said. “We have the bond, and this is an opportunity we may not have again; do it now and do them together. I’m thrilled we’re looking at this.”

In other business:

Bennett and the board continued the round-table session by discussing board policy on meeting protocols for the in-process Board Governance Handbook, and then heard a presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Renee Argain on the district hiring practices and processes.

The board passed an unaudited actual budget submitted by Darnell, who said that although the district would be operating at a deficit again this year, it did end 2024-25 with $819,572 in savings to deposit in their savings account.

The board passed a resolution by Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services E.J. Rossi, stating the formality that AUSD students in grades 9-12 had a sufficient amount and quality of instructional materials and textbooks.

The AUSD Board of Trustees will meet next on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.