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The Pleasanton Unified School District recently broke ground on Walnut Grove Elementary School’s transitional kindergarten expansion, a $9.7 million project that aims to build two new TK classrooms by late next year.
The project’s groundbreaking ceremony May 11 was among the latest of the district’s overall efforts to utilize bond money to expand and improve transitional kindergarten programming throughout PUSD.
“This project represents an important investment in early learning,” Superintendent Maurice Ghysels said in a statement to the Pleasanton Weekly. “By creating purpose-built spaces for transitional kindergarten, we are expanding access and strengthening the foundation for student success.”
The expansion of TK spaces across all PUSD elementary schools was one of the key projects listed under the $395 million Measure I school bond program, which voters approved in 2022. Since the bond’s approval, the district has been working on the project designs and construction for all the schools.
Construction is already underway for expansion projects at Fairlands Elementary and Donlon Elementary with both of those anticipated for completion later this year.
A new TK playground and Kids Club portables have also been constructed at Valley View Elementary and construction of new classrooms are set to begin soon, according to the district. The TK project at Mohr Elementary School was also recently completed.
Now, it’s Walnut Grove’s turn to begin construction of its TK expansion project, which the district said will help provide “adequate classroom spaces and outdoor learning spaces to support the Transitional Kindergarten Program at Walnut Grove Elementary School”.
“This groundbreaking reflects the trust our community placed in Measure I and our responsibility as a Board to steward that investment thoughtfully,” PUSD Board of Trustees President Kelly Mokashi said in a statement to the Weekly. “We’re proud to see that commitment taking shape here at Walnut Grove in ways that directly benefit students.”
According to the district, design for the project first began in the fall of 2024. Since then, PUSD has allocated roughly $9.7 million — including soft costs — of Measure I bond dollars toward the overall project.
The scope of work for the project includes building two new TK classrooms with work room and restrooms inside; an outdoor play yard with a new shade structure, landscaping and a new play structure; and a new parking lot that will be located along Black Avenue.
According to the district, the project is anticipated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2027.
“This project reflects what we value as a school community — creating a strong, supportive start for our youngest learners,” Walnut Grove principal Gigi Kruse-Silva said in a statement to the Weekly. “These new spaces will provide an environment designed specifically for how young children learn best, both inside and outside the classroom.”
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