McKinley School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

McKinley School, a Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) campus that serves 1,000 students in grades TK-8, will celebrate the completion of the first phase of construction at a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. The school is located at 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena.

“I would like to thank the community of McKinley, the voters of PUSD and the City of Pasadena for partnering with us to build a school facility that reflects our commitment to excellence in education,” said PUSD Superintendent Brian McDonald. “The McKinley team is already building a learning experience for students that ensures that this school is an engaging and exciting place to learn.”

The ceremony marks the completion of the first phase of construction at McKinley, which started in 2013, and consists of three buildings that house the middle school science laboratories, a gymnasium with locker rooms and a kitchen/lunch shelter. The new buildings enclose a playfield and hard-top court to create a protected inner courtyard for student play and gatherings. Sustainable features such as natural light and operable windows connected to the heating and air conditioning systems are incorporated throughout the design, blending modern technologies with the historic campus. A new faculty and visitor parking lot and student drop-off are located along El Molino Avenue.

PUSD and the City of Pasadena entered into a joint use agreement for the new gymnasium, which will serve the needs of the school during the day, and the community when students are not using the facility. Recreational opportunities available for the broader community include youth and adult team sports, fitness classes and tournaments. As part of the agreement, the City contributed $1.25 million to the project. The remainder of the funds for the $16.3 million project came from Measure TT funds, a $350 million school bond initiative passed by area voters in 2008. More information on Measure TT can be found at www.measurett.org.

Interim City Manager Steve Mermell recently commented, “The City of Pasadena and the school district have a long history of successful joint use projects. McKinley Gym exemplifies our continued commitment to partnership. The new gymnasium brings world class athletic amenities to the students of PUSD while also creating recreational spaces that promote better health outcomes for the community to enjoy.”

McKinley School was constructed in 1922 and is listed on the City of Pasadena’s Architectural and Historic Register. The last significant structural upgrade to the campus occurred in 1937.

McKinley School, 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, (626) 396-5630 or visit http://www.pusd.us/domain/25.

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), 351 S. Hudson Ave Pasadena, (626) 396-3600 or visit www.pusd.us.