U.S. Dept. of Defense approves $34M grant to modernize two district schools

On July 16, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) approved a grant for more than $34 million to provide needed facility improvements at Hancock and Miller elementary schools in the Tierrasanta community. This DOD grant will be combined with approximately $8.6 million in existing Proposition Z bond funds for a total construction budget of nearly $43 million to perform repair, renovation and replacement work at the two schools.

This federal funding allows the district to replace more than 20 aging, portable classrooms with state-of-the-art permanent classrooms to achieve a more functional learning environment at Hancock and Miller. This will have a significant, positive impact, and supports the initiative to provide quality neighborhood schools.

"San Diego Unified's Vision 2020 calls for quality schools in every neighborhood," said Superintendent Cindy Marten. "This generous grant from the Department of Defense will help ensure that the students at Miller and Hancock elementary schools receive a world-class education in a state-of-the art learning environment."

"This is another example of how kids benefit when we collaborate with our community partners," added Kevin Beiser, president of the Board of Education. "We are pleased to work with the DOD and are grateful to receive this grant. We have a proud military tradition in San Diego, and we are glad to have the opportunity to give back to our service men and women by providing their children with the best possible learning environments."

Construction at Hancock and Miller is scheduled to start in spring 2016 and is estimated to be complete in late 2018. The schools will remain open while construction is underway. Construction phasing and other strategies will be employed to minimize disruptions to the teaching and learning environment.

Planned site improvements in the whole site modernizations will include:

• Renovation of existing open classrooms 
• Replace aging portables with single-story permanent classrooms 
• Replace and enhance campus security, as well as fire and emergency safety systems 
• Renovate and enhance existing heating ventilation and air conditioning systems 
• Replace aging electrical systems and upgrade technology network infrastructure to support the i21 Interactive 21st Century Classroom Technology Initiative 
• Repair and replace sidewalks including accessible ramps and stairs 
• Renovate and upgrade food services areas 

On April 5, 2011, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act was signed into law, authorizing the DOD to provide up to $250 million to construct, renovate, repair and expand elementary and secondary public schools located on military installations in order to address capacity or facility condition deficiencies.

Related links:
DOD News Release: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16831
Hancock ES project info (scroll down to "Project Schedules"): https://fpcprojects.sandi.net/Pages/Reports.aspx?SchoolName=9136
Miller ES project info (scroll down to "Project Schedules"): https://fpcprojects.sandi.net/Pages/Reports.aspx?SchoolName=9206

Grant Funds High School JROTC Archery Programs at Seven Schools

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs at Kearny, Lincoln, Madison, Morse, Hoover, Crawford and San Diego high schools were awarded a $40,000 grant from the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) to establish an archery program. The grant funds archery equipment and replacement parts at each school site and sponsors teacher certification and training through the Basic Archery Instructor course.

In California, the National Archery in the Schools Program, or CalNASP, is administered through the Department of Fish and Game. The CalNASP program is aligned to Physical Education Model Content Standards for California and offers students and JROTC programs additional aspects to their physical education curriculum. Participating schools are also invited to compete in NASP sanctioned tournaments at state, national and international levels.

Kearny High School served as the pilot site for this program in 2011, where it gained immediate popularity and success. In their first year of competition, Kearny JROTC students were recognized as the California Archery State Champions and had several cadets ranked nationally.

For more information on the program, contact, LTC David Guzman at dguzman1@sandi.net.

Eight Schools Receive Book Donations through City National Bank, Barnes and Noble Contest

The "Reading is The Way Up" program from City National Bank has found its way to six schools in the San Diego Unified School District, meaning teachers in those schools will be buying new books from Barnes and Noble.
Schools receiving the grants are: Adams, Curie, Doyle, Spreckels and Walker elementary schools, Correia and Standley middle schools, and University City High School.


The book donations were the result of a Holiday Book Drive last December at Barnes & Noble, the world's largest book seller, in partnership with Reading is The way up at City National.

Schools had a variety of ways of celebrating the award. At Walker Elementary in Mira Mesa, students thanked Carolyn Rodriguez, Barnes & Noble vice president, and Christian Weissman, City National vice president, when they visited the school. Principal Rochelle Dawes estimates each teacher will have about $157 to spend on books as a result of the grant.

Customers at 15 Barnes & Noble stores in four states donated nearly 16,000 new books and City National matched this donation with $50,000 for the additional 16,000 new books to be purchased through Barnes & Noble by the school librarians at each of the 28 schools receiving books.

"Barnes & Noble is a great community partner that City National enjoys teaming up with during the holidays to promote the importance of literacy and education," said Carolyn Rodriguez, vice president and program administrator for City National Bank. "Literacy is one of the best gifts you can give a child, and through City National's literacy program we have now donated more than 115,000 new books to school libraries in California, Nevada, New York and Nashville since the inception of this program in 2002."

The City National and Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive ran from December 1 through January 1 and included 15 stores in the four states where the bank has a presence. City National and Barnes & Noble representatives are presenting the book and monetary donations to school administrators and students at school assemblies in the four states. The bank's literacy mascot "Blue" is also taking part in these donation presentations.

"We are very excited and appreciative of this generous donation from City National Bank and Barnes & Noble," said Courtney Haley, librarian of Tusculum Elementary School in Nashville. "This is a great example of a community partnership that's helping schools and children. We applaud City National and Barnes & Noble for taking a lead role in this wonderful community endeavor."

Partnership Grants go to Hoover, Kearny, San Diego high schools

California Partnership Academy planning grants for $15,000 have been awarded to Hoover's Academy for Health and Healthier Communities, the school of Digital Media and Design at the Kearny complex, and and San Diego SciTech's MedTech Academy.

The funds will be used to plan and start the academies for next school year. An additional $41,000 is available if eligibility is met.

The CPA model is a three-year program in grades 10-12, structured as a school-within-a-school. Academies incorporate integrated academic and career technical education, business partnerships, mentoring, and internships. The new academies will only receive funding for planning and implementation for the first year. During that year, they must show an alternative sustainability plan.

For more information, please contact Lynn McConville, CCTE program manager, at (858) 503-1744 or lmcconville@sandi.net .