Architect: It Would Take $10.1 Mil to Modernize Moulton Elementary

To bring Moulton Elementary School up to modern-day standards would require $10.1 million, according to an architectural firm hired by the Capistrano Unified School District.

WLC Architects of Rancho Cucamonga penned the report in 2009, and since then, it has been updated for 2013 pricing. The district is facing $822 million worth of needs and only has about $44 million on hand to address them.

At Moulton, half of the $10.1 million, or $5.2 million, would be spent on replacing half of the portable classrooms with permanent structures. Another $511,000 is needed to do the routine maintenance – including paint, floor covering and roofing – the district has deferred over the last few years.

The 2013 figures also include $684,000 to purchase new technology for students at the Laguna Niguel-based school.

Moulton also has some fire-access issues. More than 15,000 square feet of the buildings cannot be reached by firefighters. In addition, students would have to evacuate through other rooms, which is a safety code violation.

Some of Moulton’s classrooms are smaller than the 960 square feet required by state law.

Below is an easier-to-read legend for the photo above. New construction, which originally included replacing all the portables, is in peach, remodels in yellow.  

1.    Administration remodel/relocation

2.    Library/media center remodel/expansion

3.    Multipurpose room remodel/expansion

4.    New toilets

5.    New two-story building (18 classrooms)

6.    New kindergarten (two classrooms)

7.    New play area

8.    Fire truck turnaround

9.    New play surface

10.  Americans with Disabilities Act upgrade

11.  New parking (23 stalls)

12.  Repair leaking skylight

13.  Repair brick veneer pulling away from building

14.  Repair roof, low spots causing water in pond

15.  Trash enclosure

16.  Comprehensive modernization

17.  Kindergarten classroom remodel

18.  Joint use

Find out the needs at nearby schools: Paige Austin contributed to this report.

• Aliso Niguel High
• Bergeson Elementary
• Crown Valley Elementary
• R.H. Dana Elementary and R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs School
• Dana Hills High School
• Hidden Hills Elementary
• Laguna Niguel Elementary
• Malcolm Elementary
• Niguel Hills Middle School
• Palisades Elementary
• George White Elementary