The West Contra Costa school district is moving forward with plans to build a new Portola Middle School at the Castro Elementary site in El Cerrito despite a legal challenge, while students at Richmond's Coronado Elementary will get a new campus in three years.

The Portola project garnered both support and opposition from public speakers at the most recent school board meeting. Several people pushed the board to let the project advance, while others called for additional environmental review, saying the plans have changed too much over the months.

"The current action involves a modified project," said Robert Brower, an El Sobrante resident and attorney. "I object on behalf of the neighbors to this moving forward without additional environmental review."

District staff insisted that any changes aren't significant enough to require more environmental review.

"The main elements of the project remain the same," said Bill Savidge, engineering officer for the district.

The location of buildings, size of the project and the number of students served have not changed, he said.

The district is fighting a legal challenge from neighbors, who filed a suit related to the environmental review of the project. A judge barred the district from any construction on the project, but it is allowed to continue with the design process. Construction was slated to begin in January 2011.

This week, the board also approved a complete rebuild of

The Coronado project will include a second floor, classrooms moved away from busy 20th Street and more parking.

The project will cost about $28 million, and is expected to be completed by September 2012.

The district is currently building several other new school buildings, while other projects are in the design phase. General renovations and emergency repairs are being done throughout the district as well.

Contact Shelly Meron at 510-243-3578. Follow her on Twitter @shellymeron.