CV High gym to be dedicated Thursday

Alecia Foster

LA CRESCENTA -- Former Falcon basketball players are expected to join

school and district officials Thursday night for the dedication of

Crescenta Valley High School’s new gym.

The gym is one of several construction projects taking place at the

school and throughout the Glendale Unified School District.

“It’s not going to be totally finished,” Co-principal Gary Talbert

said.

But the community will get a peak at the gym’s progress, which was

estimated to be between 85% and 95% complete.

The gym and other renovation and construction projects are being

funded through the $186-million local school bond initiative, Measure K,

passed by Glendale voters in 1997.

Approximately $8.2 million of the school’s $34.5-million construction

project is being spent on the gym, the relocatable classroom village and

site preparation, said Linda Jensen, school planner.

Several new features, including windows to allow for natural lighting

and a ventilation system to keep the heat and humidity down, have been

added to the gym, she said. Seating capacity also has increased from

about 800 to 1,800, Jensen said.

The last women’s and men’s home games of the season will be played the

evening of Feb. 8. And although the gym will not be finished by then, it

was appropriate to hold the dedication at the end of the basketball

season, Talbert said.

“In the 1960s, men’s basketball put the school on the map,” Talbert

said.

Part of the old gym will be converted to a small art center, while the

other portion will continue to be used for junior varsity games and

classes.

The gym was expected to be finished in early March.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Dedication of Crescenta Valley High Gym

WHERE: Crescenta Valley High School, 4400 Ramsdell Ave., La Crescenta.

WHEN: 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

WHO: Open to the public.

COST: Free.