A new classroom facility is one “beam” closer to completion at La Jolla Elementary School.

Students were joined by Board of Education President Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, La Jolla Elementary Principal Stephanie Hasselbrink, school staff, and construction crews Friday to sign one of the final steel beams for their upcoming classroom and student services facility. Moments after signing, the group watched as it was hoisted into place.
“It’s surreal,” said Hasselbrink. “Just yesterday we were meeting with parents and the community. Now, we are watching in real-time as our visions are coming to life.”
When complete, the state-of-the-art facility will create a secure point-of-entry at Girard Avenue and will include 10 general-education classrooms and an engineering and robotics maker space to boost STEAM learning.

The building is part of the district’s Whole Site Modernization project, which also includes new kindergarten facilities, modernization of existing classrooms, new collaboration spaces, an outdoor learning area, improvements to food services facilities, campus technology upgrades, and an expanded parking lot with a student drop-off and pick-up area.
“I want to thank the La Jolla community for their advocacy for their neighborhood school,” said Dr. Mike McQuary, San Diego Unified Board of Education Trustee for District C. “Their investment in this school helped us get here today, and we cannot wait to bring them this new facility that will provide students a high-quality learning environment they deserve.”

Construction on the Whole Site Modernization project is anticipated to complete in fall 2024. Funding is made available through Propositions S & Z, and Measure YY, which are local school bond measures approved by San Diego voters to improve San Diego Unified schools. Read more about the project at fpcprojects.sandi.net.