Whereas Portola Middle School currently enrolls students not only from the southern part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) but also attracts transfers from throughout the district; and Whereas the WCCUSD Board and administration have committed to rebuilding Portola at the former Castro site with an estimated opening date of January 2014; and Whereas building upon, rather than dissolving, the already vibrant Portola school community could draw new students to WCCUSD and the new Portola; We, the undersigned, support the temporary relocation of Portola Middle School to the lower pad of the existing campus; and We urge the WCCUSD Board to adopt the lower pad option.