Santa Ana Schools Gear Up for Awaited Building Binge

School administrators in Santa Ana are ratcheting up construction efforts with the recent hiring of an architect to oversee the work and a well-known Latino public relations agency to draw attention to expansion projects starting at four elementary schools in the overcrowded district.

Both moves demonstrate how Santa Ana Unified School District is preparing to spend $145 million in bond funds approved by city voters as Measure C in 1999.

To raise awareness of the plans, district officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday at George Washington Elementary School, where a $7.3-million expansion will add 33 classrooms, teacher work areas and restrooms as well as reopen vital playground space now jammed with 26 portable classrooms.

On hand to celebrate were three school board members, the district’s superintendent and the guest of honor, Kenneth Mitchell, 92, the first principal of the 52-year-old school, which originally was built for 600 students. The work is expected to be finished by winter 2003.

“The citizens of Santa Ana took an important first step to meet the unique challenges of Santa Ana Unified by approving Measure C to modernize existing schools,” Supt. Al Mijares told the parents, children, teachers and others assembled on the campus grounds in southwest Santa Ana. “Today, that vote in favor of the bond directly benefits the 1,400 students of Washington Elementary School.”

Pasadena-based Valencia, Perez and Echeveste is being paid $25,000 to publicize Thursday’s event and groundbreaking ceremonies for three other elementary schools this month and next. District officials said the public relations firm also will send fliers to area residents to alert them to the work planned in their neighborhoods.

“We want to get the word out about what the district is doing, particularly in the Spanish media,” company partner Manuel Valencia said.

He said his company has done work for Los Angeles Unified School District, the cities of Los Angeles, Pasadena and Azusa, and corporate clients including McDonald’s, Mervyns, AT&T; and Verizon.

The district also has hired architect Bill Sharp to the new position of chief facilities officer. Sharp, who has helped build schools in several school districts in Southern California, will earn about $150,000 a year.

Sharp, 63, of Laguna Beach, said that even though the district already has hired Del Terra Construction to oversee the building, his position is vital for the district because “the buck will stop with me.”

Sharp said he will oversee construction of two-story wings at Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson elementary schools, as well as monitor projects elsewhere in the district.

Mijares said Sharp’s title is new, but he essentially is filling the job of assistant superintendent of facilities, which has been vacant for two years.

District spokeswoman Lucy Araujo-Cook said the moves are aimed at gearing up for major construction projects outlined in Measure C. “It’s a lot for us to watch at one time,” she said.