COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Elena Hubbell

As we prepare for the close of the 1999-2000 school year, the wheels

are in motion to begin construction of our two new high schools. All

departments are now preparing for construction this fall. Both high

schools will be built in three main phases so that educational programs

continue while construction work goes on.

JOHN BURROUGHS HIGH SCHOOL

At John Burroughs, the first phase will begin with construction of a

three-story classroom building along Parish Place, replacing some

existing classrooms, the cafeteria, lunch shelter, small gymnasium,

girls’ locker room and weight room. Only the large gym, the “Brian Hurst

Gym,” will remain when the three story building is completed. Also in

Phase I, the cafeteria/all purpose room and foods lab will be built and

the new gymnasium -- with mezzanine, boys’ and girl’s locker rooms,

classrooms and swimming pool -- will be completed.

Phase II will involve the renovation of the present two story building

at the entrance to the school. The entrance will be moved to make entry

to the school and administration offices more accessible to students and

parents. In this building, the science labs will be modernized and

updated along with the business and computer labs.

The last phase at Burroughs will be the modernization of both the

performing arts and auditorium buildings. The reconfiguration will

increase space for vocal music, instructional music, and drama. Also in

this phase, the industrial arts and visual arts areas will be updated.

With the loss of the cafeteria at John Burroughs, temporary

preparation areas will be set up so that portable food carts can be used

to take food to the students in the quad area between the present two

story building and the three hundred classroom building.

Food service will also be available near the industrial arts building

and on the front grass area near the auditorium. That area will be fenced

off during construction so students will have more space to eat and move

around. Two weeks ago, the school enacted a successful “dry run” or

demonstration to prepare for the fall when the cafeteria will be

demolished and become a staging area for construction work. While

construction goes on, we will still be in the business of educating

students. The educational process may need some alterations but quality

education will go on as usual.

Both projects are expected to begin construction in the fall.

Preparation work will begin when students leave school this month. At

John Burroughs High, there will be alterations made during the summer to

allow programs to continue during construction.

Interim housing will be placed on the parking lot at Clark and Parish

Streets to replace the rooms that will be torn down to make room for the

three-story building. With the small gymnasium and girls’ locker room

being built in the first phase, girls’ lockers will be moved to the

present upstairs “football” locker room. The larger lockers will be moved

to a large area in the industrial arts building for boys’ team rooms,

locker areas, and weight rooms. Classrooms will be stripped of any items,

such as wall air conditioners or window blinds, lighting, etc., that can

be used in other areas in the district. Also, while students are gone,

asbestos will be removed in preparation for fall demolition. Before

demolition begins and construction starts, fencing will be in place and

when school begins in September travel paths will have been established.

BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL

While major construction will be going on at both schools, the

disruptions at Burbank High will not impact students quite as much. The

Phase I construction at Burbank High will begin on the present parking

lots and grass field on the corner of Third and Harvard Streets and will

stretch to Glenoaks Blvd. There, administrative offices,

two-and-three-story classrooms, library, science labs, cafeteria, center

quad and industrial arts areas will be built. For the most part, the

major areas of the school will be built in that area in Phase I.

In the second phase, the performing arts and auditorium will be

modernized for the vocal music, instrumental music, and art departments.

The final phase will see the construction a three-court gymnasium and

swimming pool along Third Street and a two story parking structure with

tennis courts atop at the corner of Third and Delaware Streets.

The present small and large gyms will be torn down, making room for

the softball field and outdoor basketball courts.

Since much of the new school will be built on the open areas, our

biggest challenge at the Burbank High will be parking during

construction. While students will have minimal displacement for classes,

parking will be an issue. City officials are working with BUSD staff to

alleviate parking problems and provide parking on Third Street and

Harvard Avenue. Our staff continues working with business neighbors for

additional parking.

While no construction project is perfect and we do expect some

glitches, it is important that we don’t lose site of the prize at the end

of the rainbow -- two new and beautiful high schools that will

accommodate from 2500 to 2750 students and increase the quality of

education with larger, modern, air conditioned and well lighted

classrooms.

Burbank students have waited a very long time for the schools they

have always deserved. As a community, we must work together during

construction to help our students and neighbors through the next four

years. We know these new and modernized schools will not only bring pride

to our town, but will also help increase the value of our homes.

Burbank Unified School District has embarked on one of the largest

projects this community has had in a very long time. With the passage of

the $112.5 million local bond, city assistance, FEMA funding, statewide

Proposition 1A, state and federal grants and some miscellaneous general

fund monies, we have and will spend approximately $161 million over a six

year period on the modernization and new construction of all our schools.

With preparation well in advance for an ongoing maintenance fund of at

lease $4 million yearly, we are not only ready for new schools, but the

funding mechanism to maintain them is in place.

* ELENA HUBBELL is vice president of the Burbank Board of Education.

Reach her at 845-4221.