While maybe justified by the economics, by choosing parking and cars over trees , the school district sets a very bad example for our kids.

It is a false conclusion that nature must yield because there is no other option. It's about the long view: we must conserve nature and foster better co-existence with it. We already are seeing in our changing climate the consequences of our past choices and decisions. We need to do a whole lot more now to bend the trajectory we are on. This was a short-term economic choice, but not a wise one. Too bad for all of us.

Yes, honestly it sounds like a better solution would be to get rid of the parking and keep the trees!

This is so dumb. hope all those folks in the parking lot now appreciate the sun beating down on their vehicles instead.

Could have installed those canvas car-ports for WAAAAAY cheaper than $635,899. Way to over think/engineer a prohibitive "solution"

The DSA would not allow canvas either! Some old pine trees - simple / replace them with DECIDUOUS TREES that just drop leaves. This common sense approach alluded the administration and the Board for over a year. Fortunately, I think the school staff - came up with an obvious answer.

Replace old cone dropping pine trees, with newer deciduous trees.
(turn the pines into big lumber - school benches!)

As the article says, four out of five commenters were opposed to the trees removal. The fifth was from the school principal...
If you care about trees, please consider joining GreenSpacesMV (greenspaces.info@gmail.com). Be certain this will be far from the last battle to save Mountain View trees!

I’m not normally a tree hugger, but cededing to storing metal boxes, seems silly at best. All these teachers driving individually to school is another byproduct of a failure by the city council to create a transportation policy.

But sure, we should build more houses so we have more metal boxes to store.

How sad that nine trees have to die for parking space.

9 trees removed. 18+ planted in exchange. Not the end of the world.

An important point, one that GreenSpacesMV supports, is that existing trees, especially mature ones, provide more value today than new ones that can take decades to mature. We do want high replacement ratios when trees must come down, such as when they're dead, diseased, or at risk of falling. And, for any replacements, we ask for native, drought tolerant, climate resilient, pollinator-friendly, and location-appropriate choices. We also see high value in having a strong presence of trees and other landscaping on school campuses, where our kids benefit in a variety of ways from them.

This school has been cursed with awful decisions even before it’s inception. They put down turf at an elementary school, destroying a natural lawn. They ran a diesel generator for months because the district and PG&E miscalculated where power lines were. The schools first principal vanished before the school even opened. Cutting down nine trees was almost done in vindictive joy right after a rubber stamp meeting. Super sad for the children