Rising sea levels threaten Bay Area schools

Mill Valley Middle School, along with 51 other Bay Area schools, faces increased flood risks due to climate change, prompting debate over rebuilding strategies.

Ezra David Romero and Katie Worth report for KQED and Climate Central.

In short:

• Parents at Mill Valley Middle School are concerned about flooding that disrupts access to the school and risks student safety, with traffic chaos on the sole access road being a recurring issue.
• An analysis by KQED and Climate Central identified 52 Bay Area schools at risk from rising sea levels, with the situation expected to worsen by 2050.
• Wealthier districts like Mill Valley can fund flood mitigation, but economically disadvantaged schools lack resources to protect against rising waters.

Key quote:

“The kids are massively losing out, and for what? To rebuild a building on a site where it shouldn’t be rebuilt. It just doesn’t make sense.”

— Miranda O’Connell, Mill Valley parent

Why this matters:

Rising sea levels and increased flood risks are challenging infrastructure planning in vulnerable areas. Without coordinated efforts and funding, low-income communities may face heightened risks and inadequate protection against climate change impacts.