Dr. Ben Churchill
Superintendent
Carlsbad Unified School District

As we all grapple with challenges of historic proportions, it is wonderful to have some good news to share with our community. We have our shovels in the ground! This summer has been a busy one for Carlsbad Unified’s school construction projects, funded by Measure HH, the district’s $265 million facilities construction bond. The work has been divided into five phases over the next decade, and today our Phase 1 projects are well underway.

With approvals from the Division of the State Architect in hand, we had planned an ambitious 52-day construction schedule for the summer. However, with our campuses closed due to the coronavirus, the summer construction projects were given a head start.

Carlsbad High School’s (CHS) Science building is now being modernized, with 11 updated classrooms/labs and remodeled restrooms; new roof, ceilings, cabinetry, technology, exterior paint, and water bottle filling stations; and seismic retrofit. Also, the CHS chiller plant is being recommissioned. All will be completed by fall.

Major renovation projects at Hope, Kelly, and Magnolia Elementary School campuses are already underway. At Hope, we are constructing three new classroom buildings and a kindergarten building, plus renovating the existing buildings and portables to accommodate increased enrollment due to new housing construction. In addition, we are modernizing the MPR, library, playgrounds, electrical, HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and technology infrastructure. At Magnolia, one of our oldest sites, we are modernizing the classrooms, library and MPR; creating a new entrance and administration area; and building a new kitchen, lunch shelter, and playgrounds. And at Kelly, we will be constructing a brand-new multipurpose room with increased capacity for the school’s growing student population, as well as modernizing classrooms, renovating relocatables, and improving playgrounds and infrastructure. Each of these elementary school campuses will also have a new STEAM lab, as will Poinsettia and Pacific Rim Elementary Schools. These projects are slated to be completed in fall, 2021.

Additionally, construction will soon begin on solar panel carports and battery storage projects. By winter break these new features will be operational at eight school sites, which will reduce our carbon footprint and save money on our electric bills.

We have also made investments in campus safety and security, with a new visitor check-in system at all schools, and improved eight-foot fencing and gates at Carlsbad High School, Valley Middle, the Calavera Hills campus, and Pacific Rim and Poinsettia Elementary Schools. In addition, security cameras will be installed on every school campus by winter break.

We appreciate the steadfast work of our Facilities and Construction Management Department and the cooperation of school site staff, and we thank the Carlsbad community for your continued support.