The construction of the school will begin in June, and will add two kindergarten classrooms to the main building. This will eliminate classroom sharing and accommodate the switch to morning-only kindergarten classes. The renovation will include the construction of a two-story building and 12 additional parking spaces on campus.

At a May 11 community meeting, parents and Willow Glen residents raised concerns about relocating the kindergarten classrooms from Minnesota Avenue to Lincoln Avenue. Parent volunteer Bob Mulvany was worried about the impact of increased traffic along Lincoln Avenue. While a traffic study is underway, Mulvany said he found it "unacceptable" that the district made the decision before the study was completed.

Parent volunteer Mary Schorr, who is fighting for more playground space, said the move will eat up blacktop space and play space once construction starts.

"Not having a play structure for two years is a huge concern," said Schorr, who has two children attending the school. "Students need a space to run around and work out their frustrations."

Under the construction schedule the first part of the renovation will be relocating kindergarten classrooms and building the parking lot. Because the campus renovation is going to take two years to complete, Schorr said the kindergarten classes should remain intact until the district has determined another use for that space.

The district has designated the current kindergarten location for a future preschool, but no concrete plans have been made.

Steve Adamo, the district's project manager, said it was practical to tie the relocation to the construction of the new parking lot so students will be dropped off safely. The school has also set aside two portables for the two additional kindergarten classes that will start in the fall, said Willow Glen Elementary School Principal Dayle D'Anna.

As for the empty plot, "the space can be creatively used during classroom time," adds D'Anna, who is also looking into suggestions to place picnic tables in the area for students.

The district understands the students' need for a play structure, Adamo said. If a permanent space becomes available and it's feasible to install the play structure earlier, it will be done. The district was planning to temporarily store the existing play structure, but with parents unhappy over that decision, the district is now exploring if the structure can be moved to a temporary location on campus. One option that the district offered is to move the structure to the kindergarten playground, which will be ready in September and could be shared by all the students at the school.

Fred Schorr was hoping that the district's plans would be more defined at the May meeting. However, the district is still exploring different configurations to maximize the play space in the new kindergarten area. Ty Williams, the district's director of facilities and construction, contends that this demonstrates the district's willingness to listen to suggestions from the community.

"It's in flux because [Fred] Schorr came forward with a proposal that made sense and we want to look at the feasibility of his plan," Williams said.

To keep communication channels open, the school has introduced forms that parents can fill out if they have concerns.

"There are going to be a lot of questions along the way and I want you to ask them," D'Anna told parents at the meeting.

After the meeting, school board trustee Pam Foley said she was confident that the majority of parents and community residents support the design.

"By the number of people who weren't at the meeting, that shows support," she said. "Only a few parents have concerns."

While the concerns are valid, other parents think it's time to move on. Shannon Westlake, an incoming PTA board member, said, "It may not be ideal in every aspect but nothing is and we have a small amount of space to work with. We just have to do the best."

Westlake, who has a kindergartner attending Willow Glen Elementary next year, is unperturbed by the relocation of kindergarten classrooms. "I would love to see it where it is now but that's because it's all I've known," she said. "I'm just keeping an open mind."

The final design will be presented to the San Jose Unified School District board at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 19 at 6:30 p.m., 855 Lenzen Ave. For more information, contact district spokeswoman Karen Fuqua at 408.535.6444.