School officials have gotten their first peek at potential designs for an outdoor education landscape at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Sausalito.

Project consultants offered a presentation during the Sausalito Marin City School District board meeting on Thursday. A key component of the project is bringing Willow Creek up from underground.

“I’m so excited about this creek and the amphitheater plans,” Amy Hale, the school’s new principal, said at the board meeting. “It’s going to be a beautiful campus.”

The presentation was by hydrologist Christopher Woltemade and architect Solange Guillaume of the ecology firm Prunuske Chatham Inc. They outlined three potential conceptual plans.

The trustees agreed to make a decision at their board meeting on Aug. 21. In the meantime, teachers and other stakeholders will be brought into the loop, said LaResha Huffman, the district superintendent.

“Also I have concerns about liability and I need to consult with our insurance provider before the board makes any decisions,” Huffman said.

At issue are such details as whether to include a small or a large outdoor amphitheater for student classes and potential public events, Huffman said. In addition, trustees will need to decide whether to bring 700 feet of the creek above ground or extend the exposure to 900 feet.

The creek is normally only 2 or 3 inches deep and about 2 feet wide, but it could expand and rise during major flooding, Huffman said.

Also at issue is whether to leave a designated building pad area vacant in case the space is ever needed for more classrooms.

The district has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the creek elevation. If more funds are needed, local environmental organizations such as Friends of Willow Creek can step in, said Steve Moore, the group’s leader.

“We have the majority of funding in hand needed to construct the creek,” Moore said on Friday. “We encourage the board to keep moving forward with the design process. Their continued progress and support will make our project competitive to receive any necessary additional funds if there is a funding shortfall.”

The creek project is part of the district’s overall renovations at the Sausalito campus. The upgrades also include construction of a new elementary school.

Jason Cave, project manager for Greystone West Inc., said he expects the school construction to be done by the end of this year. The timing for occupancy is to be decided by the district, but it could happen during the mid-winter or spring break, he said.

The school construction is being funded by proceeds from the $41.6 million Measure P bond approved by district voters in 2020.