Photos

Students at Monte Vista High School took a few ceremonial whacks at their old library as the school district begins demolition to make room for the school's new Workday student center.

The new facility, which will replace the original 1965 library, will be multi-story structure incorporating an expanded library and career center with student union-type space, upstairs classrooms and meeting spaces.

Approximately 15 students, who were either members of the leadership team or the student design committee, donned hard hats and goggles to pose with sledgehammers already stuck in the library wall. Monte Vista has included students from various athletic, science and social groups in the library design process.

"We always want to keep student input," said Assistant Principal JP Ballou. "Some will help with the engineering phase, some with construction management to find out what's involved…we're trying to link school to career as much as possible."

Dave Duffield, founder of PeopleSoft and Workday and his wife, Cheryl gave San Ramon Valley Unified $281,000 in December 2010 for technology upgrades and new furnishings at the MVHS library. The money will also pay for laptops and iPads for students, along with videoconferencing in the library.

Although the first group of students wasn't able to put holes in the library's front wall, Duffield's daughters -- senior Kelsey and freshman twins Mary and Emily -- were in attendance to watch as Kelsey and school administrators took a few swings.

"I think a lot of people will be using it and it will be fun," Emily said of the future student center.

The library, along with the walkway between the 200 and 400 buildings and janitorial office/copy room will be demolished on Saturday, with the area reopened on Sunday, April 15. Construction is projected to be completed Fall 2013.

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