GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WRAPS UP SUMMER WITH UPDATE ON BOND PROJECTS

October 2, 2012 (East County, San Diego) -- As summer 2012 comes to an end for students, many projects are also ending as part of the Propositions H and U school bond program. Construction teams have been busy renovating campuses throughout Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) to provide ADA upgrades and construct new classrooms, special education suites and Career Technical Education (CTE) facilities.

The Grossmont Facilities team also spent the summer undertaking a thorough bond review to provide an in-depth analysis of bond financials, completed and future projects, and remaining needs at the end of the program. The new and improved District construction bond website provides increased transparency for the voters of East County on all accomplishments and issues related to the bond program. Between May and August 2012, Prop U bond expenditures reached $166 million, a $26 million increase over a three-month period that focused on 10 campuses.

At El Cajon Valley High School in El Cajon, Building 700 North and South were completed including the modernization of career job training classrooms for business and finance pathways, video production, printing and graphics programs. Construction also began on Building 400, which will provide students with general classroom and art space and is expected to complete in late 2012.

At El Capitan High School in Lakeside, the much anticipated Agricultural Complex completed, featuring a state-of-the-art greenhouse and a large storage building for farm equipment and supplies. The two barns will feature housing for chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and steers; interior hay storage; an animal birthing house for pigs; interior and exterior animal pens; a wash area for the animals; and two arenas. The existing Agricultural building has been modernized to include classrooms and a shop teaching area. The new Agricultural Complex includes a three-classroom building and computer lab. The community is invited to a ribbon cutting and dedication of the facility on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m.

Also at El Capitan High School, students enjoy the modernization of Buildings 900, 1100 and 1200 that brought 14 classrooms up to district standards. In addition to the classroom renovation, the campus also received a new energy-efficient chiller to replace the outdated system.

At Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, World War II-era portable classrooms were demolished to make way for Building 200, a 21-classroom complex that supports the District’s CTE program. Classrooms include space for science, photography and culinary arts pathways, as well as the arts, media and entertainment pathway. Two outdoor art patios and a large courtyard also offer alternate learning environments year-round.

At Grossmont High School in La Mesa, students will soon be enjoying a new Humanities building scheduled for completion in spring of 2013. The two-story, 35,000-square-foot building will provide 31 state-of-the-art classrooms replacing outdated facilities. The team will also construct a Career Technical Education facility for automotive technology and has recently completed six new Tennis Courts.

Next to Grossmont High School, the GUHSD District Office recently broke ground for the modernization of two buildings that have been in service for nearly 90 years. The structure will receive comprehensive utility, environmental and seismic renovations to meet current building safety codes, ADA, and Path of Travel standards.

At Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, construction continued on the 34,000-square-foot Performing Arts Complex (PAC), with occupancy scheduled for spring of 2013. The PAC will include a 410-person full-scale theatre, black box for theater in the round, dance studio, digital music labs, band room, choral room, scene shop, costume shop, recital rooms and other ancillary functions. The project includes new accessible parking and pathways into the campus that have been completed.

At Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, modernization concluded on the library, guidance center, and Buildings 500 and 600 for visual arts and special education suites. In addition, students enjoy a remodeled cosmetology classroom funded by Regional Occupation Program (ROP) funds.

At Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, demolition of decrepit relocatables was completed.

At Santana High School in Santee, 12 rundown relocatables have been demolished and a new student plaza was constructed.

At Valhalla High School in El Cajon, a roof replacement was completed on the campus’ main structure.

West Hills High School in Santee received ADA upgrades and improvements to the exterior of the social science building. Audio visual and lighting upgrades have also begun in the theatre.

At Chaparral High School in El Cajon, additional classrooms were added to support the Gateway Program, providing alternate learning opportunities for students.

At the ELITE Academy in El Cajon, design work commenced on a new special education facility that will replace the Work Training Center.

At the new high school in Alpine, the team completed site acquisition and is continuing to process permits and remove hazardous soils.

Proposition U is a $417 million general obligation bond measure passed by voters in November 2008. When combined with projected state funding, the estimated program budget is $601.7 million. The program makes significant progress toward the modernization of district schools, providing classrooms and equipment for Career Technical Education, multi-purpose facilities to support the superintendent’s vision for the arts in education, and the construction of a new high school in the Alpine/Blossom Valley area. More than $166 million in Prop U funds have been expended to date.

Proposition H is a $274 million general obligation bond measure passed by voters in March 2004.  When combined with state dollars and other funds, the program budget is $326.9 million. 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. $322 million of Prop H funds have been expended to date and the balance is committed for the District Office ADA upgrades and the ELITE Academy.

More information about the construction programs is available on the Prop H and Prop U website as well as the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee website.