GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WRAPS UP CLASSROOM MODERNIZATION PROJECTS, BREAKS GROUND ON EIGHT NEW SCIENCE BUILDINGS

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Milestones Mark Completion of Phase 2B, Start of Phase 3A for $274 million Prop H School Bond Program

Valhalla High School Principal Mary Beth Kstan takes the ceremonial shovel turn, joined by Valhalla science teachers, a student and District staff in a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 12 for the school's new two-story science building, which will house 12 science clasrooms with labs. Completion is scheduled to be completed in Feb. 2010.

March 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — Grossmont Union High School District has announced that two major milestones have been achieved on the landmark $274 million Proposition H school bond passed by voters in 2004.

First, Phase 2B, which includes standard classroom modernization projects, has been completed at seven of the district's 16 campuses, representing a total of 224 fully upgraded and enhanced classrooms to better serve the needs of East County students and staff.

The remaining elements of Phase 2B include:

-- Mount Miguel High School--opened bids in January; received board approval on Feb. 12 and construction to begin over the next 30 day

-- Valhalla High School, Foothills Adult School, Steele Canyon High School, Viking Center, Chaparral High School, Homestead Frontier and the Work Training Center--presently in the pre-design or full design stage 

Once all Phase 2B modernization projects are complete, a total of 276 classrooms will have been modernized to the new district standards.

Rendering of new science building at Grossmont High, one of 8 new science buildings being constructed with Prop U funding.

Secondly, Phase 3A is now underway, which includes the construction of eight new science classroom buildings on campuses throughout the district. Construction for each building is expected to take approximately 12 months. All eight of the science classroom buildings have either commenced construction or are in the pre-construction phase.  Upon the completion of Phase 3A, the district will have 72 new science classrooms and laboratories available for instruction.

Proposition H was approved by 62 percent of voters in March 2004 to fund repairs of aging schools in the district as well as the construction of a new school. It was the first bond passed by voters in the East County in 37 years. The program includes student safety improvements, upgrades and expansion of technology and other infrastructures, renovations of outdated classrooms and the construction of new science classrooms. The construction phases include:

Phase 1 and 2A --Underground utility infrastructure (2005 -- 2006)
Phase 2B -- Modernization of standard classroom buildings (2007 -- 2009)
Phase 3A -- Construction of new science classrooms (2009 -- 2010)
Phase 3B-R -- Modernization/construction of remaining prioritized work (2009 – 2010)
New School Construction (2011 -- 2013)

More information on the Proposition H program can be found at proph.build-guhsd.com or at the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee Web site at cboc.guhsd.net.

Established in 1920, Grossmont Union High School District encompasses an area of approximately 465 square miles, including all of the cities of El Cajon, Santee and Lemon Grove, most of the city of La Mesa, a small portion of the city of San Diego, and the unincorporated areas of Alpine, Dulzura, Jamul, Lakeside and Spring Valley. Over 24,000 students are served by the district's schools.


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