MEDIA ADVISORY
Restoring San Diego High School: Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of Major Modernization at Historic Campus
May 2, 2022
WHAT: San Diego Unified School District, the City of San Diego, and the San Diego High School community will celebrate the start of a Whole Site Modernization project to rejuvenate the 140-year-old campus.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
10:30 - 11 a.m.
WHERE: San Diego High School
1405 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
VISUALS: 10:30 - 10:35 a.m. – ASB President Leads Pledge of Allegiance with Army
Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Presentation of the Colors, Cheer Team Performs
10:35 – 10:45 a.m. – Speakers
10:45 – 10:50 a.m. – ASB President joins students, attendees & speakers to put shovels in the dirt
10:50 – 11:00 a.m. – Media one-on-ones (Spanish speakers will be available for
this portion)
SPEAKERS:
San Diego Unified Representatives
Richard Barrera, Board of Education Trustee, San Diego Unified
Stephen Whitburn, Councilmember, City of San Diego
David Alvarez, Former Councilmember, City of San Diego
Francisca Del Carmen, Principal, San Diego High
Gaspar Oliveira, 1st Vice President, San Diego High School Alumni Association
Josephine Peeler, 12th Grade Student and PTSA Representative, San Diego High
ADD'L INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
Aries Cole, ASB President & 12th Grade Student, San Diego High
Amy Zheng, Board Trustee, San Diego High Foundation
Mila Anne Cridlig, President, San Diego High Parent Connect Foundation
Lee Dulgeroff, Chief Facilities Planning and Construction Officer, San Diego Unified
BACKGROUND:
San Diego High serves 2,500 students from communities throughout the city.
Opened in 1882, the 140-year-old campus has been nationally recognized for various academic and athletic programs. The school is home to a top-ranked International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, has a very active alumni association, and takes pride in its many distinguished graduates. The campus is one of the district's most used sites for community, recreational and public activities.
With a new 99-year lease now in place, San Diego Unified is moving forward with construction under the Whole Site Modernization project.
The project will rejuvenate the campus, honoring its rich history and school community, which includes former San Diego High teacher and the "Mother of Balboa Park," Kate Sessions, and National Football League (NFL) player Art Powell, who graduated in the 1950s.
The Whole Site Modernization project includes a striking new campus entrance and an expanded central campus quad, classroom renovations and a new College, Career and Technical Education Engineering Design Lab. Other campuswide improvements will provide students and families a world-class educational environment.
The project will be constructed in phases over the next several years to minimize disruption to teaching and learning. Funding is made available by Propositions S, Z and Measure YY, which are school bond measures approved by voters to improve San Diego Unified schools.
The modernization is anticipated to be completed in spring 2025.
EVENT/PARKING MAP:
RELATED LINKS:
Video: SDHS Alumni Association's history of San Diego High.
San Diego High School Community Construction Announcement.
This event is for professional journalists. Please confirm attendance in advance: communications@sandi.net.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jamie Ries, Facilities Communication Liaison, San Diego Unified, 619-855-9283, jries@sandi.net.
Samer Naji, Facilities Communications Supervisor, San Diego Unified, 619-548-3388, snaji@sandi.net.
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