Building Our Future

We’ve made it to the end of another school year and what a year it has been. Seven of our nine Signature Projects are currently under construction and are starting to take form. New additions include multipurpose rooms, science classrooms, the Pamela Mari Tech Hub and a brand new preschool campus with more on the way.

We are excited to share the development of all our Bond Projects with you, and we hope you enjoy a restful summer ahead.

To reference what these project phases mean, please visit our Bond Project page!

On Friday, May 28, 2021, DJUSD celebrated groundbreakings for two of our Signature Bond Projects. The first was for the new multipurpose facility at César Chávez Elementary School which will be constructed on the north side of campus and will be host to a new stage, music room, and a space large enough to accommodate 650 students at a time. The second groundbreaking marks construction of the Pamela Mari Da Vinci Tech Hub which will include a multipurpose room, STEM lab, P.E. locker rooms and science lab for Da Vinci High School.

Construction for both projects will begin this summer and continue over the next 12-14 months. Stay tuned for updates and photos on our website at https://www.djusd.net/bond/bond_projects/site_projects.

Birch Lane: Birch Lane was the first multipurpose facility to move into the construction phase and has an approximate completion date of April 2022. To date, the aerial view above shows the location of the new MPR and progress thus far. 190 cubic yards of concrete has been poured and sets a foundation for future full-school assemblies, music classes, staff and student restrooms as well as space for students to enjoy their lunch hour.

Willett: On May 27, DJUSD Executive Director of Capital Operations, David Burke, had the opportunity to visit both Kindergarten classrooms at Willett Elementary to increase excitement about the new multipurpose facility under construction. Our inquisitive students had the chance to visit with the construction crew and ask questions about the build, materials used for the build, the size of the new facility, all of the machinery required for construction, and how to stay safe on site. They can’t wait to be second graders and see the final product!

North Davis: Construction at North Davis Elementary requires careful balancing of multiple interests as we work to include considerations such as trees, utility connections, fire access, hardscape mitigation and student supervision. We are thankful for our staff and community members who provided feedback through a series of meetings prior to construction; they were critical to determining the placement of this new multipurpose facility.

You will notice that MPR construction activities this summer are taking place at each site well beyond the limits of the new buildings. This is to take advantage of the summer closures to install utility lines and accessible paths of travel and complete this work prior to the start of school in August.

Davis Senior High School will be seeing some exciting changes on campus soon. The Design phase of the new STEM Building has further developed with the finalization of classroom layouts. In an effort to collaborate with staff on this Bond Project, the DJUSD Capital Operations Team constructed a mock-up science room to offer science teachers the exact dimensions, proportions and layout of the new classrooms for maximum efficiency for each student. Specifications such as furniture, cabinets, doors, and windows are also now being determined. Plans for the new STEM Building are planned for submission to the Division of the State Architect Fall 2021 and construction should begin Summer 2022.

You can view the DSHS STEM and Aquatic Center virtual outreach presentation on the Bond website.

In August 2021, DJUSD will see the completion of two, voter-approved, Bond projects. The brand new Early Learning Center (ELC) at Korematsu is already in place. Prospective staff were able to tour administrative offices and all seven classrooms at the new preschool campus. The new site is enhanced with an expanded parking lot and a student drop-off/pick-up area that will be available to students campus-wide.

Emerson and Da Vinci Jr. High will also celebrate the addition of four new science classrooms on campus. Each classroom will be 1,440 square feet and will include eight dedicated lab stations as well as flexible furniture to support lecture and small group instruction. Fall 2021 will give students the opportunity to enjoy science courses in their new state of the art modular classrooms.

On June 20, 2019, the DJUSD Board of Education passed the Call to Climate Action Resolution supporting the District’s commitment to environmental education, sustainability and the continuing expansion of District-wide efforts to improve the energy efficiency of DJUSD schools. As a result, the District has created a Solar Master Plan to help guide us in our work. One of the primary goals in the Solar Master Plan is to offset 80% of the District’s energy use through the installation of photovoltaic solar panels at most school sites. We invite you to view our virtual presentations for a preliminary view of possible panel installations at your neighborhood school site and review Frequently Asked Questions. Public comment ended for this project, however you can still share your feedback by emailing facilityplanning@djusd.net. We look forward to hearing from you.

The installation of hydration stations was one of the first district-wide Bond Projects and began construction in 2019. This is a student-initiated project that allows students and staff to contribute to a sustainable environment by filling reusable water bottles throughout the day in an effort to reduce/ eliminate plastic water bottles from our waste. North Davis and Pioneer will be the last two school sites to receive hydration station installations, and both should be complete by the end of Summer 2021.

DJUSD wants to keep you updated on all our Bond Projects. Here are some ways you can learn more:

• Bond Website: Find information on all things DJUSD Bond Program, including information on bond projects, presentations, bond news stories and more.

• Bond Calendar: View all of our previous and upcoming meetings about our various bond projects.

• Bond Public Outreach: Our public outreach website highlights our detailed communication plan for each bond project.

• Social Media: Follow DJUSD on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional highlights and pictures of our bond projects. #DJUSDBond.

• Contact us with questions or feedback at facilityplanning@djusd.net.

• Invite your friends and neighbors to subscribe to this e-newsletter!