|
(Left)The Santa Paula Unified School District dedicated the new Science and Technology Building last Saturday
(Right) Above is just one of the classrooms in the new building. Tours were conducted Saturday with teachers telling vistors about their classrooms. The new Science and Technolgy building was dedicated on Saturday. |
New Science/Technology buildings dedicated at SPHS
February 25, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The new Science/Technology buildings at Santa Paula High School were opened for public tours Saturday, following a 10:00 am dedication ceremony.
A large crowd of Santa Paula Unified School District (SPUSD) representatives, City of Santa Paula officials and community members were on hand for the dedication. The Santa Paula High School band provided music preceding the event and the National Anthem was sung by teacher Pam Thompson. SPUSD Superintendent Alfonso Gamino welcomed everyone. “We thank everyone who participated in making this vision a reality,” he said.
Certificates of recognition were presented by representatives of State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, Assembly Member Das Williams and County Supervisor Kathy Long.
SPUSD Board President Michelle Kolbeck noted, “Since the 1800’s people with vision have steered Santa Paula. Well known families such as Briggs, Blanchard and Bradley were highly impressed with this area and thought it was a perfect location for a town. As the city grew these same people knew that education held the key to Santa Paula’s future and in 1882 the first public grammar school was opened. In 1889 the Santa Paula Academy was opened on this very site as a private school with two teachers. In 1891 this private school was sold to the city for $8,000 and became known as Santa Paula High School.”
Kolbeck said that 124 years later education is still the key to Santa Paula’s success. She added, “With the support of the public in passing a much needed bond, the vision of providing our students with a first class education is evident in this new Science and Technology Center.”
Board Vice President Chris Wilson thanked previous high school board members Doug Jackson, Terry Nelson and Catherine Sepulveda for their vision before the 2008 bond election. He also mentioned former high school district Superintendent Dr. David Gomez. In addition he thanked the SPHS staff advisory board and the students of the high school.
Martin Hernandez, Santa Paula Vice-Mayor also spoke at the ceremony. He thanked the SPUSD for including the city in the celebration. “It’s all about the kids,” he said. “It’s all about relationships. I want to thank everybody for keeping one thing in mind, and that is our youth, that is our future. With this Science and Technology Center it’s going to give them the ability to prepare for the future with technology that’s advancing faster than we can keep up with it.”
SPHS Principal Elizabeth Garcia told the gathering, “Educating our children and young adults to become tomorrow’s champions of the future is what Santa Paula Schools are all about. Our teachers are working very hard to make science and technology accessible to all of our young men and women. On January 17, 2015 there was a buzz of excitement as students entered their new classrooms. We’ve come a long way. The 200 wing, where students attended science and technology classes through December of 2014 was built in the 1930’s and dedicated in 1939, over 75 years ago. When Santa Paula Academy opened its doors in 1889 to 51 students, no one envisioned that we would be here today with over 1,500 students.” She also thanked the residents of Santa Paula for making this happen.
Garcia added, “Expanding our school and focusing on building our instructional program is at the forefront of our minds and we want to be purposeful in maximizing the skills and abilities of our students. We have been charged with giving our students 21st Century skills to succeed in a global economy as we prepare our students to be college and career ready.”
SPHS ASB President Alondra Navarro said the new buildings give a modern look to the historical high school on the hill. “My class has been fortunate to see the most change at Santa Paula High School,” she added. “I hope that this era does not end here.”
Funding for the new buildings came from the 39 million dollar bond measure, approved by voters in 2008. Some of that money also went to the renovation of the SPHS football field and track. In addition, the district received almost 5 million dollars from the State under the Overcrowding Relief Grant program. The grant money was used to augment funding for the new building and thereby free up Bond funds for other unfunded projects.
The new facility has four computer labs, two of which are designated for specific teachers and two open labs, teacher prep rooms, a satellite kitchen and more.
