School district modernization underway in Atascadero
The steel structure for the new building at Atascadero Junior High went up in January. Photo by Heather Young
District balances numerous projects
–Atascadero Unified School District is well into its moderninzation projects funded by a bond measure passed in November 2010. The district was authorized to issue and sell bonds up to $117 million. The total budget is $129,538,711 with a $5 million contingency.
“The projects are going wonderfully well,” Atascadero Unified School District Director of Support Services Stu Stoddard said.
The administration building at Atascadero Junior High School was demolished last year and in January a steel structure for the new building went up.
“We’re looking at completion around the start of the 2016-17 school year [late summer-early fall],” Stoddard said. The new building will house administration, library and 21 classrooms.
The former building before it was demolished a year ago. Photo by Heather Young
Two more buildings, which now house science classrooms and administration, will be torn down, and all portables will be removed. The modernization of the junior high will include accommodating bringing over a total of 10 sixth grade classes, an additional 300 students, from throughout the district. Currently, Stoddard said, there are already four sixth grade classes at the junior high school. At the completion of the projects, the school will be renamed Atascadero Middle School.
In addition to the large project at the junior high, reconstruction is happening in four buildings at the high school in the 600, 900, 1100 and 1200 buildings.
“We strip them down to bare bones and we put in all new finishes, including ceilings, floors, walls,” Stoddard said, adding that they will also get refurbishments of facilities and technology. This project is expected to be completed in August. The B Building, the original building, is expected to be torn down in March 2017, though Stoddard said that building cannot be torn down until new science classrooms are built.
The modernization started at San Gabriel Road Elementary School a year ago is wrapping up. “San Gabriel got all new interior finishes and technology, as well as air conditioning in all classrooms,” Stoddard said. “That was a major piece of the pie there.”
As the San Gabriel project wraps up, the project for Santa Margarita is slated to begin in the next three weeks.
Atascadero School Projects
- 2012 Monterey Road Elementary modernization $3,585,725
- 2013 Santa Rosa Academic Academy modernization $3,624,320
- 2014 Atascadero Junior High School/Fine Arts Academy relocate and reconstruction $48,622,200
- 2014 Atascadero High School gym roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning $800,000
- 2014 Carissa Plains School modernization $1,115,785
- 2014 Atascadero High School/Maintenance Operations & Transportation complete relocation of shops and warehouse $2,779,500
- 2015 AHS science, technology, engineering and mathematics building $5,591,553
- 2015 AHS vocation program, ag diesel mechanics #3,297,564
- 2015 AHS cafeteria, remodel B Building $2,692,400
- 2015 Creston Elementary modernization $1,162,560
- 2016 AHS visual and performing arts center with classrooms $21,600,000
- 2016 AHS vocation program, culinary arts expansion $3,245,000
- 2016 AHS vocation program, medical and health technology $3,120,000
- 2016 Santa Margarita Elementary modernization $4,452,759
- 2018 Del Rio Continuation High School modernization $669,446
- 2019 San Gabriel Road Elementary modernization $4,512,597
- 2020 San Benito Road Elementary modernization $4,307,302
