MEDIA ADVISORY: Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School Students to Celebrate Completion of Major Campus Improvement Project

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

 

Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School Students to Celebrate Completion of Major Campus Improvement Project

 

 

Monday, March 10, 2025

 

WHAT:         

Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School students, parents, alumni, and community members will join San Diego Unified School District and City of San Diego leaders to celebrate the completion of the more-than-century-old school’s Whole Site Modernization project. 

 

WHEN:        

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

9 - 9:45 a.m.*

 

Heavy traffic is anticipated between 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. for student drop-off.

 

WHERE:      

Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School

4481 Copeland Ave.

San Diego, CA 92116

 

*See the event location map with the media staging area below. 

 

VISUALS:     

9:00 - 9:05 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Students' Singing Performances

9:05 - 9:15 a.m. - Speakers 

9:15 - 9:20 a.m. - Ribbon-cutting, Photo Opps 

9:20 - 9:45 a.m. - Media 1-1s, Facilities Tour

 

Facilities photos, a project fact sheet, and drone video before, during, and after construction can be found here. 

 

SPEAKERS:  

Dr. Fabi Bagula, Superintendent (Interim), San Diego Unified School District

Shana Hazan, Board of Education Trustee, San Diego Unified School District 

Sean Elo-Rivera, District 9 Councilmember, City of San Diego

Tamara Muhammad, Principal, Franklin Elementary School 

Westley Dozier Jr. and Declan Carll, 5th Grade Students, Franklin Elementary School

 

BACKGROUND:

The Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School Whole Site Modernization is a significant renovation of the existing campus with campuswide improvements, including removing aging buildings and constructing a new state-of-the-art two-story classroom building.

 

The new facility includes collaborative workspaces, classrooms, a staff lounge, and a student food services kitchen, which is part of an expanded student dining area underneath a shade canopy.

 

All existing classrooms were renovated and modernized. Outdoor improvements include renovated kindergarten and upper-grade playgrounds with shaded play structures, a learning garden with a shade canopy, and new landscaping.

 

Campuswide safety was improved with a monitored secure single point of entry, modern public address/intercom system, security cameras, intrusion and fire alarm systems, and secure perimeter fencing. 

 

Funding is made available through Propositions S & Z, and Measure YY, local school bond measures approved by San Diego voters to improve San Diego Unified schools. The City of San Diego also contributed to a pair of stop signs at the corner of Copeland and Monroe Avenues to improve pedestrian safety. 

 

A Leader in Me school, Franklin Elementary has served the Kensington community for 102 years, first opening its doors in 1903. 

 

It currently offers courses in STEAM, arts, and music enrichment, and extended day programs, such as the YMCA Character Builders, and SAY San Diego’s PrimeTime. As a future “Garden-to-Cafe” school, students will plant and harvest a variety of vegetables and serve them. 

 

PARKING:     

Parking will be limited to street parking. See the map for the event location. 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Jamie Ries, Information Services Specialist, San Diego Unified, (619) 855-9283, jries@sandi.net.