Sierra Madre Middle School Breaks Ground Thursday

The Pasadena Unified School District will host the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Sierra Madre Middle School on Thursday, September 12 at 5 p.m.

The $27 million project will have 20 classrooms, a multipurpose room, music rooms, computer lab, library, administration area, atrium and other features, funded by Measure TT. When completed, Sierra Madre Middle School will be able to serve 600-650 students.

“This is something that is long overdue, but is happening. We encourage people to come to the groundbreaking to see it with their own eyes,” PUSD spokesperson Adam Wolfson said.

The Pasadena Unified School Board voted in June to award a $27.8 million contract for the construction of the Sierra Madre Middle School, which set the plans in motion.

The original plan was previously held up at the Department of State Architect (DSA), which must approve every plan for public school construction. A premature decision to demolish the existing site at Sierra Madre Middle School has lead to complications according to Wolfson.

“Were excited the project is moving. It was frustrating for everyone, district and community alike, when the project was stuck in DSA for so long. It was completely unanticipated by everybody. The fact that this is being built, that the district’s commitment to the community is being seen through—I think is the positive feeling we have at the district. “

The newly established timeline has been strictly followed thus far according to Wolfson. The project was rebid, construction started at the beginning of July, and the owners representative has been briefing the Sierra Madre City Council regularly.

The estimated time of completion is 20 months from the starting date of construction and technical groundbreaking on July 1, 2013.

“Were now at a very good place. We have definitely had some bumps in the road, but were looking to have a new middle school that were confident will be filled to capacity,” Wolfson said.

Sierra Madre Middle School currently serves 397 students. The school district expects to eventually fill capacity with students enrolled in the Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program that will be implemented at Sierra Madre Middle School to complement the program in Sierra Madre Elementary School.

“There has been some consternation ‘Why are you building a school that will increase capacity when you’re in declining enrollment?” The answer is because Sierra Madre has a track record of sending children from their community to their neighborhood schools,” Wolfson said.

Wolfson also noted that Sierra Madre Elemenatry school has robust attendance and is the highest performing school in the district.

With PUSD being an open enrollment district, Pasadena families will also be able to apply to send their children to the new middle school, especially if they hope to be enrolled in the Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program.

Following the groundbreaking will be the Back to School Night for Sierra Madre Middle School. The groundbreaking will be at 5 p.m. at 160 North Canon, Sierra Madre.

Find bi-weekly updates about the construction of the Middle School at http://sierramadre.pasadenausd.org posted by Frazer G. Thompson the
Owner’s Representative.