Current Projects

Summer 2023 construction postcard (Spanish postcard)

Outdoor Greening and Learning Spaces

It’s important that our schoolyards are flexible and dynamic spaces that support equitable, diverse learning and recreational activities, which enhance the physical and mental well-being of students and promote a connection to  our natural world. In the 2023-24 school year, MVWSD is embarking on creating outdoor greening and learning spaces at each school that will provide shade, plants and outdoor areas for learning and play. Click here to learn more about the process, timeline and community input process.

Locks
Beginning Nov. 27, 2023, the field gates will be locked during the school day as part of a new perimeter controls system. The public will continue to have access to school fields in the evenings and on weekends through a system of automatic locking/unlocking gates. For student and staff safety, it's very important for our school to limit points of entry during school hours. Additionally, staff members will be able to access classrooms and offices using key cards, instead of keys. If gates malfunction, call (650) 526-3248 x1004.

Window Replacement Project
When the buildings were constructed, there were no approved operable windows allowed by the Division of the State Architect at the time. The code has since changed and installation of operable windows is planned with work happening May-July 2023.

Restroom Building
A prefabricated, standalone toilet building will be installed at the southeast corner of the field near the Latham Street tot lot.  The unit will be maintained by the City and may be used after school hours by the public; not by students during the school day. This is an important security measure to ensure adults are not mixing with children in student restrooms. The restroom design and placement were determined through a community input process held in Spring 2021.This project is in process of being permitted through the City of Mountain View.

School Year 2022-23
Lighting
New lights and/or bollard style light posts were installed to illuminate pedestrians’ path of travel between campus and parking lots. The light locations were determined by photometric survey data. This additional lighting is an important safety measure for staff members and guests using the campus in the evenings and winter late afternoons. 

Security Cameras
Security cameras in public areas were installed at all school sites as a way to increase safety for students and staff members by deterring misconduct and preventing vandalism. Members of the schools’ communities were engaged in a series of feedback meetings in Winter 2022.
 

Click here for a postcard describing Castro's projects (English)
Click here for a postcard describing Castro's projects (Spanish)

2020-21 Construction Projects

(Funded by Measure T)


Click here for a postcard describing Castro's projects
Click here for a postcard describing Castro's projects (Spanish/español)

Measure T, the $259 million bond issue passed in 2020, included plans for a variety of projects that will increase safety, efficiency and provide for short-term growth at our schools. 

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HVAC
Replacement and improvements of HVAC equipment was completed this summer in mechanical closets and in classrooms, offices, MUR across the campus. Our schools’ HVAC systems have been updated to include MERV-13 filters, which is the highest-grade filter available for our units, or air purifiers with filtration ratings at least as high as the MERV-13.   Additionally dampers on all of our units are open to full capacity and will pull in outside air.

Fencing/ Perimeter Security
Improving perimeter fencing and adding gates to completely enclose campus and fields in order to secure campuses and make COVID screening more efficient. Fencing and gates would be ornamental metal to match existing at campus frontage and 6’ high chain link fencing and gates at property lines and back of campus.  The construction timeline for this project is Fall 2021. 

The purpose of fencing is to control points of entry during school hours. It’s important to note that the public will have access to fields outside school hours. The intention is to secure campuses when students are present, and have gates open through a lock management system in the evenings and on weekends. 

Castro has a six-foot ornamental metal fence gates added to the two back/fire lane entrances to campus. Extension of the height of the existing field fence on Latham Street (runs from the preschool to Castro school) from 4 feet to 6 feet. This improvement to the existing fence is for the purpose of securing the Castro/ Mistral campus. It is separate from any future fence project that dedicates play area to the preschool. 

Click here for the perimeter fencing map (user friendly)
Click here for perimeter fencing concerns and answers
Castro/Mistral/Latham community meeting presentation

Solar
Castro/Mistral's solar arrays near the schools' courtyards are almost complete. Not only will these structures support solar panels to save the district $600,000 annually in electrical costs, they will provide much-needed shade. Some non-heritage trees will have to be removed to make way for the arrays, but MVWSD will replant two native trees for every one removed.

Project start: Summer 2021. To view the map of solar array areas, please click here. 

Lighting
New lights and/or bollard style light posts to illuminate pedestrians’ path of travel between campus and parking lots will be added. The areas of need are determined by photometric data. The project includes refinements made as a results of feedback from residents during community meetings and Board of Trustees meetings.  This additional lighting is an important safety measure for staff members and guests using the campus in the evenings and winter late afternoons. Project start: Fall 2021

Security cameras 
One of the projects identified in the Mountain View Whisman School District's Master Facility Plan and the Measure T Bond was the need for security cameras in public areas at all school sites as a way to increase safety for students and staff members by deterring misconduct and preventing vandalism. Members of the schools’ communities will engage in a series of feedback meetings through Jan. 2022 before the plan for security cameras is finalized.

Additional Storage
New approximately 400-square foot sheds/storage areas are in design currently. The intent is to match adjacent buildings. 

Public Restrooms
Castro/Mistral will purchase and install prefabricated, standalone toilet buildings. The units would be maintained by the City and may be used afterhours by the public. This is an important security measure to ensure adults are not mixing with children in student restrooms.
Click here for the restroom presentation

Paving
At Castro Elementary, this summer there was removal of existing pedestrian rated paving adjacent to the existing 2 story classroom building and installation of new vehicular rated paving. Work onsite took place from July to August 2021.

2016-18 New Campus

(24-month project funded by Measure G)

Castro/Mistral construction postcard, May 2018 (En español)

Summer 2019
Construction on the play structure additions was completed.  The school got a new sign in the front. This sign, paid for with Measure G funds, will include accurate school and district names. Funding for construction and capital improvements, like school signs, come from restricted funds that can be used only for that purpose. The District used an innovative approach to piggyback on existing, competitive local government contracts to lower the sign cost and expedite installation.

Summer 2018
Castro Elementary completed construction in August 2018. It has new classrooms, a new library and a multi-use room.  




Castro Dedication - August 2018

Castro dedication postcard, English


Castro dedication postcard, Spanish


Summer 2018
All of Castro and some of Mistral's teachers packed and moved to new classrooms over the summer. 

The former Castro/Mistral multi-use room on Escuela was torn down to make way for the Mistral kindergarten wing construction. The new kinder wing was completed in December 2018. 

Additionally, Escuela Avenue in front of the school underwent construction as part of a separate City of Mountain View project. The Escuela parking lot was renovated to increase traffic flow and improve safety. 

The District has worked very hard over the years to do the work, funded by Measure G, to make facilities improvements and renovations at every school a reality. The results will be amazing. There will be new and updated classrooms, libraries and MURs. However, construction requires extra accommodations. We appreciate your support and understanding as we take one step closer to improving each of our schools for our students, staff and community.

Construction fencing is for you and your children's safety. Stay clear and play only in designated areas.

During the 2017-18 school year
Construction on the new Castro School continued behind the construction fence. Castro school steel framing happened in the fall of 2017, and roofs were installed. 

Completed in 2016-17
A village of temporary housing portables was created in December 2016 for use for 18 months for classrooms, education areas and offices to be used during construction, the removal of the existing portables and the demolition of the back wing of classrooms currently housing transitional kindergarten and other classes. 

In February 2017, demolition of the existing buildings occurred on the south-east side of the campus to make way for the construction of the new Castro Elementary School and shared Multi-Use Room and Library.

In February 2017, the Toft Street parking lot and turn-around was closed. There is no public access for parking or drop off to Castro/Mistral from Toft for the next 16 months.

Modernization of 16 existing classrooms is complete. The frame for the new Castro School has been walled in, and the MUR frame is erected.

Schedules are subject to change. Check back for updates here.

Phased construction maps
Phase 2 Phase 4

Castro construction postcard, Sept. 2016  (En espanol)

Castro construction postcard, Nov. 2016 (incluye Español)

Click here for the summer construction postcard update, May 12, 2017 (en español)