Demolition of the outdated classrooms on the San Ramon Valley High School’s (SRV) campus was completed in the beginning of October. However, the construction date is to be determined as building plans have not gone through final approval.

The process to approve the new building plans as well as the funding, which began in October, can take anywhere from 6-9 months. “Be patient,” suggests assistant principal Bernie Phelan. The plans have been submitted to the State Architect Board, and it is their job to make sure the building plans are structurally sound and safe.

This project will allow the District to provide students and staff with much needed state-of-the-art facilities that include 21st century classrooms. The new building will replace outdated buildings.

In the meantime, about 40 classrooms have been relocated into portables.

When construction does get underway, one might wonder if additional Bay Miwok Tribe remains will be identified as in 2009. In 2009, 22 bodies were found as much as 8 feet below the ground on campus during construction of the main gym.

Emma Bartels, sophomore at SRV, stated “I don’t think they will find more remains of the Bay Miwok Tribe because they probably would have found them when they first built the foundation and water lines there.”

Phelan highly doubts more remains will be found. “There has been a total of 2 and a half months of digging and the only thing that surfaced was a dog bone over summer,” stated Phelan. However, construction workers will know if they find something when they see that there’s a cap, indicating a body.

Just in case more Indian burials are found, a local archaeologist is monitoring the site.

In July of 2009, Native American remains were found by construction workers digging a water line. More remains were later discovered as the foundation was dug for the gym, delaying the project as archaeologists were brought to dig.

Under California law, when American Indian remains are discovered, the property owner is required to bring an archaeologist and a representative from the tribe that the remains most likely belonged to onto the site to oversee their removal.

According to the Danville San Ramon News, Andrew Galvan, who has traced his ancestry back to the Bay Miwok tribe that once lived in Contra Costa County, believes the remains were anywhere from 250 to 2,000 years old. They included the bones of adults, children, and infants. After settling this unexpected finding, workers continued to construct the main gym which was completed in 2010.

In regards to current construction, Assistant Principal Phelan said, “I’m pleased with how the students are reacting to the construction on campus. So far, there have been no complaints, except the noise.” He went on to say “Although it may be a hassle having to go around the green fences, on the positive note, you can hang things on them such as posters.”

Although there is no specific timeline for the construction project because of the never ending potential delays, current construction will most likely start this upcoming summer and current freshmen will see the new building and quad by their senior year.