|
GUHSD lays out progress and plans for upgrades
By Susan Hogoboom
The Alpine Sun
EL CAJON — The public was invited
Saturday, Oct. 3 to get a glimpse of the future designs and
upgrades of the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD)
schools. The event, held at Grossmont High School, featured
bulletin boards listing work in progress; work to be performed;
and work completed, under Propositions H and U, on the district
schools. Conceptual drawings were presented by the architects
representing the firms assigned to each school site.
Alpine high school students are mainly attending
Granite Hills High School in El Cajon and Steele Canyon in
Spring Valley, until the proposed new high school, on the site
of the former Lazy A Ranch, is built.
Granite Hills High School has already completed several
projects. In July 2008, remodeling of the bathrooms and
classrooms took place. The projects included a new roof system,
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, data power, and
finishes. Underground utilities infrastructure, including
electrical, gas, water, sanitary sewer, drainage,
communications, the fire alarm, and data were also upgraded
during that time.
In June 2009 the GHHS stadium underwent construction
for greater accessibility.
Each completed upgrade at the school was completed
under Proposition H.
Under Prop U, a 1,600-square foot science classroom
containing eight science labs, prep rooms, and restrooms is
scheduled to be completed at the school in August 2010, along
with work and landscaping upgrades in the adjacent area. In
July, The Alpine Sun reported that the new science building did
not have the green light until clean-up to protect against
potentially toxic substances was completed. Such clean-up took
place in July and recently ended.
Future upgrades at Granite Hills include a new
performing arts complex. The complex will house a 450-seat
theater, a dance studio, dressing rooms, a storage area, a
digital music lab, and a scene shop.
Also slated for construction is a new 17,700-square
foot administrative building, which will house student services.
Also expect to see a lecture hall and classrooms transformed
into a multi-purpose room and a remodeled library. There will be
a new learning center with restrooms. Each project will be
funded by Prop U.
The passage of Prop H will allow some buildings to be
transformed into classrooms at the school. It will also allow
for the construction of a new entry plaza, a new bus drop-off
location, repaving of the new student parking lot, landscape
upgrades, and modernization of the existing food service area
and the transformation of the weight room into a wrestling room.
Steele Canyon High School has added a new track and
field and has made the baseball field more accessible to the
disabled. Students will also enjoy the addition of a new pool,
thanks to Prop U.
Work slated to be done is the installation of a new air
conditioning system for one classroom and the Individual
Distribution Facility, also known as the IDF room, which houses
heat sensitive equipment, including computers, the main server,
data, clocks, and the school bell.
The new Alpine high school is in what architect,
Patricia Sprotte, with Sprotte Watson Architecture Planning,
called the current phase the “rough edition.” She said
architects are meeting with the California Department of Fish
and Game and the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)
about what needs to be done to preserve the water and trees at
the Lazy A Ranch. Sprotte credited the local Kumeyaay Nation
bands as being “very helpful” and “very supportive,” and added
that they want it to built in a way that preserves local Native
artifacts. Several local members of the tribe are on committees
related to the project.
“We want to preserve all the trees. We want to make
them a real focal point,” Sprotte said. “This is the first
classroom already built. It’s right here out under the trees. We
want to have the open spaces.”
According to Bob Kiesling, GUHSD Executive Director of
Facilities Management, archeologists will be on site and he
expects “the process to go fairly slowly,” to ensure proper
preservation of the artifacts takes place.
“There are certain areas that we can’t and don’t want
to build on because of these artifacts,” said Sprotte. “There is
a possibility that the tribes might want to build a cultural
museum on site,” adding that such a museum would be funded by
the Indians and serve as a learning tool for children.
Builders also hope to preserve the Butterfield
Stagecoach Route, which is on the proposed school site. “We want
to preserve that and make that a feature and learning
opportunity for kids,” Sprotte said.
Sprotte said the new school will be “very green” and
very “sustainable.” In fact, the site has an ephemeral stream
and the USACE will be consulted with during construction before
that area is touched, as water run-off onto areas to be paved is
a concern. Such careful consideration may cause the project to
run at a slower-than-average pace.
“We are meeting with the Alpine Citizens’ Group, and
representatives from the tribe are in the design group,” Sprotte
said. She added that this is beneficial as it ensures all
involved in both the design and construction “are on the same
page” and share the same vision, each party having the
opportunity to provide input.
According to Kiesling, the new school is slated, at
this time, for a 2013 completion date. Delays and barriers may
occur, and its construction is contingent upon a number of
factors, including a vote by the GUHSD Board to approve the
project for new building and upon successful negotiations with
landowners to acquire the land through eminent domain.
However, most are optimistic, including GUHSD
Superintendent Bob Collins and Alpine High School Citizens’
Committee (AHSCC) Chairman Bill Weaver. Collins said that all
environmental reports are complete. “We have a pretty extensive
environmental report … and the tribes are on board.”
Collins credits other factors, too, in providing him
optimism. “We have a lot of people coming back from the private
school. I think a lot of people are getting more attracted to
Grossmont,” Collins said, noting the extensive programs the
district has in place.
Collins also noted the Chaldean influx into the east
County area. “We have a significant influx of immigrants from
Iraq and … we met with the congressman’s office last week, and
we are anticipating, into East County … 10,000 a year for the
next two year,” he said.
Collins foresees Granite Hills as one of the two
schools that will receive the influx, thus further necessitating
a new school.
Weaver shares Collins optimism. “It is not a sure deal.
But I’m an optimist, and I think it’s almost a sure deal.”
Collins took the microphone at the event, applauding
the architects and telling attendees that the designs entail
“purpose and vision of what education is going to look like, not
tomorrow but 20…50 years into the future.”
On Oct. 28 at Alpine Elementary School at 6:30 p.m.,
Superintendent Collins is scheduled to hold a community forum.
“It is going to be all aspects to date on the progress of our
new high school,” said AHSCC Vice Chairman Sal Casamassima,
Weaver said design architects will be present.
Proposition U, passed in Nov. 2008, allows for the
repair and modernization of classroom and provides for new art
multi-purpose facilities.
Proposition H, passed in March 2004, will allow
reparation of aging schools, increased safety, and state funding
for the construction of a new school.
 E-mail
the Editor
|
