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The city of Sunnyvale is partnering with the Sunnyvale School District and Fremont Union High School District to build a new branch library and learning center on the site of the closed pool at Lakewood Elementary School.
File photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
The city of Sunnyvale is partnering with the Sunnyvale School District and Fremont Union High School District to build a new branch library and learning center on the site of the closed pool at Lakewood Elementary School.
Anne Gelhaus, staff reporter, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, for her Wordpress profile. (Michael Malone/Bay Area News Group)
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Lakeside library planned

The city of Sunnyvale is partnering with the Sunnyvale School District and Fremont Union High School District to build a new branch library and learning center on the site of the closed pool at Lakewood Elementary School.

The three agencies are sharing the cost for the 20,000-square foot facility to be located on approximately 2.15 acres. The city will lease the site from the elementary district for 50 years, with an option of an additional 25 years for total cost of $1 over the term of the lease. Both school districts will contribute $3 million towards construction, while the city will be responsible for the design, bidding and construction management.

The elementary district will contribute 10 percent and the high school district 15 percent of ongoing operations, staffing and maintenance costs. A joint task force, similar to the City’s current arrangement at the Columbia Neighborhood Center, will provide oversight and guidance to operations

The project is scheduled to begin in spring 2020 with a design phase and community input opportunities. The Lakewood Branch Library and Learning Center is planned to open in early 2024. The current estimate for design and construction is approximately $28.3 million.

For more information, visit  ​https://sunnyvale.ca.gov/business/projects/library.htm.

Superintendent survey

The Sunnyvale School District board has begun its search to replace Superintendent Ben Picard by posting a community survey about  the qualities the board should seek in a new superintendent. The survey was set to be online in English at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C6V8CKB and in Spanish at https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/52RJMJ3 through Jan. 30. It is also available at www.sesd.org.

Picard, superintendent since 2009, announced that he will retire June 30.  The board is looking to hire his replacement by July 1.