7/19/18 – The Daily Transcript: Grossmont schools to receive $12M in upgrades this summer
A rendering of the Santana High School event center, which is expected to be finished by 2019.
Daily Transcript Staff Report
The Grossmont Union High School District is in the midst of $12 million in upgrades to its schools this summer.
The construction is being funded by the district's Proposition U and Measure BB bond measures.
The work consists of nearly a dozen projects, and half a dozen more are getting ready to bid. The jobs will range from new construction to modernizations and other upgrades.
Projects include the addition of security cameras across the district; construction of new physical education facilities, event centers, student support services facilities, and multi-purpose facilities; numerous modernization projects; painting; and paving and flooring repairs.
Additional summer projects include the completion of photovoltaic installations as part of Grossmont's sweeping solar energy initiative. The solar initiative is just one of the numerous energy conservation and utility management initiatives and is expected to return utility cost savings to the district in excess of $70 million over 25 years.
Other modernization and upgrade activities include:
- The outfitting of dozens of classroom buildings and other facilities with high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units
- The installation and retrofit of high-efficiency lighting throughout the district
- Demolition of six outdated buildings to make way for new, state-of-the-art classroom buildings, event centers, and student support services facilities
- The installation of solar carports at eight campuses
Measure BB is a $128 million general obligation bond approved by East County voters in 2016 to upgrade Grossmont Union High School District schools' classrooms/labs/facilities; repair aging roofs, plumbing/electrical systems; modernize technology infrastructure; improve student safety/security; replace deteriorated portables; construct new school facilities to accommodate growth; and renovate career-training facilities for instruction in science, technology, engineering, math and skilled trades.
Proposition U is a $417 million general obligation bond passed in 2008.
The program substantially completes the modernization of all Grossmont Union High School District schools, providing classrooms and equipment for career technical education, and multi-purpose facilities.
