PUSD Board Helps Break Ground At New Del Sur K-8 School

It may not have a name, but it's got a principal, plenty of supporters and big plans.

Smiles were abundant as ground was broke (ceremoniously) at the site for the newest and "last piece of the plan" for Poway Unified School District—School 39.

Sonya Wrisley, the school’s principal, welcomed the district and community guests to the construction site—directly across from Del Norte High School on the southwest corner of Lone Quail Road and Camino Del Norte—Thursday morning.

“We are very excited that construction has begun,” Wrisley said, “not only because it addresses a real need in the heavily-impacted communities of 4s Ranch, Del Sur and The Lakes, but also because this school is at the forefront of the District’s commitment to ‘Changing the Way We Do School’.”

The facility, which still had yet to be named, has been designed as a 21st century learning environment that will feature flexible instructional settings and a full range of technology tools to support individual student’s intellectual development.

The school was designed by architect BakerNowicki Design Studio and Echo Pacific Construction is in the early stages of building the facility from the ground up.

“Because the vision for this school is so unique, we will designate it a ‘school of choice’ for the communities it serves," Wrisley said. “Students will definitely experience a new way of learning here.”

Superintendent John Collins, who was among those who helped "break ground," said he was excited about the opportunities the new school will offer to students of all backgrounds in the Poway district.

“The opening of School 39 provides a great opportunity for our District to expand our efforts to shape the future of public education to meet the needs of our 21st century learners," he said.

Mello-Roos funds from the Del Sur, 4S Ranch and The Lakes communities will pay for the construction of the school.

"School 39" is set to open in August 2014, with Kindergarten through fifth grades. The following three years will add grades sixth through eighth.

Check out the video above and see the ceremonious groundbreaking for the school that is said to change the entire district's way of teaching.