The San Lorenzo Unified School District cut a ceremonial ribbon on Dec. 13 to dedicate three new classroom buildings at Arroyo High School, an $8 million project funded through a bond measure passed in 2018.
Students, staff, administrators, school board trustees, community members and construction partners gathered in an outdoor classroom adjoining the new wing on the far west end of Arroyo High.
The project has a combined total of 12,275 square feet and was financed by the $130 million Bond Measure B, which district voters approved by a two-thirds margin. One building, with three classrooms, is specially designed for students with special needs. It has its own circle drive and includes kitchen and laundry facilities to help teach independent-living skills. The other two buildings have a total of five classrooms for a variety of general education classes.
The new facilities will allow for removal of nine remaining portable classrooms at Arroyo, which date back to the 1990s. That aligns with the SLZUSD Board of Education’s commitment to use bond funds to replace portables with permanent structures wherever possible.
Measure B also funded a similar three-building, six-classroom wing at the district’s other comprehensive high school, San Lorenzo High, which will be ready this coming spring and likely be occupied in August 2024. Those buildings also will replace portable classrooms.
Other modernization projects funded by Measure B include new classroom buildings at Lorenzo Manor and Colonial Acres elementary schools, as well as new roofing and gutters, renovated restrooms, improved paths of travel and surfaces, electronic locks, video surveillance and public address systems.
Future plans include a new classroom building at Washington Manor Middle School and further modernization at Arroyo and San Lorenzo high schools, including new fencing, security cameras and electronic locks.
Cutting the ribbon at the end of the 45-minute ceremony was Arroyo senior Jessie Huynh, a student with special needs. “We are thankful to the people who made this happen,” she said. “We are looking forward to starting our new year here. Thank you everyone!”