Welcome to 2015! As January
signals the start of a new year, I am pleased to announce
construction program updates. Significant progress continues at campuses
throughout the District as part of the Proposition U school bond program.
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| Weight Room at El Cajon Valley |
El Cajon Valley – On December 4, the District celebrated the
completion of the new $6.4 million Physical Education/Sports Complex on the
campus of El Cajon Valley High School with a ribbon-cutting and building
dedication ceremony.
The new 22,780-square-foot
facility replaces two outdated, 60-year-old locker buildings that did not meet
current seismic safety standards. The new facility is ADA- and Title
IX-compliant and features a weight room, comparable team rooms for boys’ and
girls’ sports, coaches’ quarters, athletic trainers’ workroom, secure lockers,
restrooms, showers, accessible outdoor restrooms for pool and stadium users,
and a large general purpose/great room for use with gymnastics, wrestling and
large-group assemblies. The last phase of construction will include restoration
of the adjacent outdoor multi-purpose physical education courts.
Granite Hills – Work is approximately 31% complete on the new
10,000-square-foot Student Support Building. The new facility will be
energy-efficient and feature state-of-the-art technology and will house
finance, attendance, registrar, guidance, career center, school nurse and
administration. The $4.7 million project provides a new campus entrance with
visitor parking and student gathering area for events. Also at Granite Hills, modernization
plans for Buildings 30 and 80 have received DSA approval and construction will
start upon completion of the Student Support Building.
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| Rendering for two new buildings at Grossmont |
Grossmont– Architectural renderings have been unveiled for
two new two-story buildings, totaling 23,840-square feet, to house Student
Support Services and arts classrooms. The project involves demolition of
several outdated, 60-year-old buildings and extensive regrading of the site to
accommodate the new facilities, which will provide a dramatic new entry for the
campus. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2015 pending funding
approval.
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| Pool at Helix Charter |
Helix Charter – Modernization work is complete on the Physical
Education buildings, as well as the pool and pool deck areas at the District’s
second oldest campus. The $7.3 million project, funded in part by a grant from
the County of San Diego, brings the facilities up to ADA and Title IX
compliance, and includes new boys’ and girls’ sports rooms and physical
education classrooms, locker rooms, restrooms and showers. The pools have a new
plaster lining along with new starting blocks, lighting and scoreboard.
Monte Vista – A $6.3 million project to modernize the
54-year-old Physical Education building is now 98% complete. The Title IX-and
ADA-compliant building features new locker and shower facilities, shared
meeting room, fully equipped classroom, wrestling area, dance room, coaches’
facilities, trainers’ room with whirlpool tub, enhanced classroom/testing
technology, and secure equipment storage areas. Site work continues, with
temporary classroom and restrooms to be removed at year’s end.
Santana – Modernization work is 90% complete on three
classroom buildings, with a construction cost of $6.3 million. The project
includes Building 400 (culinary arts and video production classrooms), Building
500 (weight room/fitness classroom) and Building 700 (two special education
suites, 3D/2D art classroom with an outdoor kiln, nurse’s suite, psychologist
and speech therapist rooms, and two restrooms). The project also includes a
connection for the school’s gym to the campus chiller system.
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| Valhalla Theater |
Valhalla – Modernization plans for the four-story Main
Building are currently in DSA review. The project will include approximately 50
classrooms, as well as restrooms and new administrative and guidance counselor
offices, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC upgrades, as well as
fire/life/safety and technology upgrades. Plans to modernize the theater are
also being submitted to DSA. The project will include a 2,000-square-foot stage
with wings, sound room and fixed/sloped seating. Work will be completed in
conjunction with the modernization of the Main Building, which is planned to
begin in Summer 2015.
SAVE THE DATE:
District Cheer Competition on 1/24
The 29th Annual Grossmont
District Cheer Competition, also known as "Districts," will be held
in the West Hills High School gymnasium on Saturday, January 24, at 6:30 pm.
There is a $10 entry fee at the door. Children under five are free.
The annual competition will
feature teams competing at the restricted and non-restricted, Junior Varsity
and Varsity levels. "Districts" offers a unique opportunity for the
teams to come together to compete and showcase their skills. It encourages school
spirit, promotes school morale and crowd sportsmanship, supports
interscholastic athletics and demonstrates high standards of leadership.
Superintendent Ralf Swenson
