As the 2007-2008 school year approaches, the Hart District is placing the finishing touches on two modernization projects. Both Arroyo Seco Junior High School and Saugus High School will open their doors to students who have witnessed the transformation of their campus over the last few years. While some work will not be completed until a week or two after the year begins, all of the major modernization will be completed.
At Saugus High School all of the classroom buildings and the gymnasium have been modernized and several new buildings have been constructed. Newly completed student library and administration/counseling offices complement a reconstructed campus quad and amphitheater. A food service building has been erected and extensive site work to improve walking areas and disabled access for students has been completed.
Landscaping has been completed and temporary student housing has been removed. The budgeted cost for all of this work was $48 million, including $19 million dollars from Measure V school construction bonds approved by local voters in 2001. State construction funds and developer fees augmented the Measure V funds.
Arroyo Seco Junior High School will also complete its modernization for the 2007-2008 school year. A new gymnasium, science building, administration building, food service facility and two-story modular classroom building are among the improvements completed. All of the campus classrooms have been modernized, and a redesigned interior campus will provide student access to all areas of the campus, along with a beautiful and functional new amphitheater.
Landscaping improvements and expansion of the infrastructure that supports fire detection and other safety-related systems have also been completed. Modernization and new construction at Arroyo Seco was budgeted at $43 million dollars, including $23 million from Measure V bond funds.
As we close out these two projects, I am reminded of the generosity of the citizens of Santa Clarita who approved Measure V and enabled us to move forward with these projects and many others. The Hart District is in the final phases of modernization at Canyon High School, and we will soon begin $62 million in modernization at Hart High, Placerita Junior High, and Sierra Vista Junior High schools.
All of these projects, as well as the new Junior Air Force ROTC Center at Valencia High and a new gymnasium and music building at Rancho Pico come as a direct result of Measure V and the willingness of our community to support the students in the Hart District.
For more information, visit www.hartdistrict.org .