A Contra Costa County judge has tentatively ruled against a group of El Cerrito residents who argued that the environmental review process for the Portola Middle School rebuilding project was flawed.
Judge Barbara Zuniga handed down the tentative ruling Friday in the suit against the West Contra Costa Unified School District in regards to a rebuilding of the middle school at the old Castro Elementary site. She heard arguments from both parties Monday but did not issue a final ruling.
"We were surprised," said Robert Brower, the attorney representing the El Cerrito residents. He said that he thinks Zuniga did not completely address the issues at hand.
In their suit, neighbors argued that the school district mishandled aspects of the project's environmental review process, including the effect on special education students and Cooper's Hawks, making project documents available to the public, and consideration of alternative sites for the new middle school. They also asserted that the school board violated the Brown Act in its discussions of the project.
Zuniga dismissed those claims, saying the district met its obligations under both the California Environmental