A Whole Site Modernization project is underway to transform Crown Point Junior Music Academy in Pacific Beach. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled at the elementary school at 4033 Ingraham St. on Friday, May 12 from 7:40-8:25 a.m.

“We will also be honoring Stephen Luchs, the violin academy founder at Crown Point who passed away last year at the event,” said Jamie Ries, information specialist at San Diego Unified School District.

Maureen Magee, director of communications at SDUSD, talked about the changes underway at the school. “Replacing an aging portable, the new kindergarten building along Fortuna Avenue will include state-of-the-art classrooms with modern technology and furniture, and collaborative workspaces,” she said. “To create a secure main campus entryway, student services offices will move from Ingraham Street to Pacific Beach Drive.

“The vacated Ingraham Street building will transform into a music center and makerspace that will include new music and practice rooms. Further improving school security, new cameras, an emergency communications system, and perimeter fencing will also be installed.”

Magee added outdoor improvements will include a learning area near the music and makerspace, a new play structure, hardscape striping, shade shelters, an expanded parking lot, and a dedicated drop-off and pick-up area along Jewell Street.

Beach & Bay Press held a Q&A with SDUSD to discuss what the Whole Site Modernization is all about:

BBP: What exactly is a Whole Site Modernization plan?

SDUSD: Site modernization is a major school renovation project that involves large-scale demolition and/or new construction.

BBP: Why Crown Point for modernization? Why now?

SDUSD: San Diego Unified, with the support of several voter-approved school bonds, has been repairing, revitalizing, and renovating neighborhood schools. It’s Crown Point Elementary’s turn for a significant modernization project that will bring CPJMA students the high-quality learning environment they deserve.

BBP: What exactly is involved in this whole site modernization plan for Crown Point?

SDUSD: The administration functions will be relocated to Building 4 to provide adjacency to a new student drop-off and pick-up area and provide a single, secure point of entry to the campus that will be monitored by office staff during school hours, improving student safety and security.

A relocatable classroom building will be removed and replaced with a new Kindergarten Building with two classrooms. The UTK-Kindergarten learning area will receive a new play structure and shade shelter. There will be two new music classrooms, one of which will house the Suzuki program, and a new Makerspace classroom with access to an improved outside courtyard, which is part of significant outdoor improvements that will also include restriped hardscape play areas, two new play structures and a new shade shelter for first-fifth grade students.

All remaining classrooms will be renovated, revitalized, and furnished with new furniture. This includes building systems repair and replacement, improvements to support learning and instruction, health, safety and security, accessibility and code compliance, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

BBP: How long will modernization take? Will it be done in phases?

SDUSD: The project will be constructed in phases to maintain campus operations and limit impacts on student learning. It is estimated to be complete by mid-2025.

BBP: How is site modernization being paid for?

SDUSD: This project is funded by Propositions S and Z and Measure YY, which are voter-approved school bonds to improve San Diego Unified Schools.

BBP: We’re assuming the school will be operational while construction is going on. How will that be accomplished?

SDUSD: Correct, the project team develops a comprehensive project phasing plan to maintain an operational campus during construction and to limit impacts on student learning.

CROWN POINT JUNIOR MUSIC ACADEMY

A UTK-through-fifth grade magnet school, Crown Point Junior Music Academy has served the Crown Point and Pacific Beach neighborhoods since 1948. In addition to its Suzuki Violin program, Crown Point Junior Music Academy offers a free after-school music club and music enrichment instruction in homeroom classes. Open to fourth and fifth-grade students, the music club offers instruction from professional musicians and focuses on instrument-playing skills, playing and writing songs, and making audio and video recordings.

In 2008, teacher Stephen Luchs brought the Suzuki Violin program to what was then known as Crown Point Elementary, teaching both students and parents how to play violin together, perform together, and bring awareness to the importance of parent involvement. That same year, the school became known as Crown Point Junior Music Academy. A veteran of the San Diego Symphony, Luchs taught violin to elementary school students and parents for 26 years. He died in April 2022.