Construction begins on Solana Vista rebuild

Before Solana Vista School begins to be demolished this week, the Solana Beach School District invited students to chalk their gratitude on campus. Messages appeared on the blacktop and sidewalk and even on the wall of the buildings—colorful rainbows and hearts, thank you messages to teachers and sweet thoughts like “We get a happy feeling here at our school” and “Our second home.”

The Fox family hung a Waves t-shirt on the fence signed by Savvy and Elis. “Thank you Solana Vista for having good teachers and being awesome.” “Thanks for KIVA memories” read one message on the blacktop about the school’s multi-use room where the school staged plays and book fairs. Wood from the old KIVA will be saved to incorporate into the new, larger multi-use room. The updated campus on Santa Victoria will be all one-story with warm stucco and stone accents and a design that aims to provide enhanced learning environments for students, preserve the play field and improve parking lot and traffic circulation.

Thank you’s to teachers written on the old school walls.

(Karen Billing)

Due to the school closure, the rebuild schedule was able to be moved up and construction crews mobilized last week.

According to SBSD Director of Capital Programs Caroline Brown, the beginning stages of construction included the placement of temporary fencing, demolition of some asphalt around the eight relocatable classrooms, scrubbing of landscape and placement of construction trailers/storage units.

Demolition activities began this week along with the removal of relocatable classrooms. Demolition is expected to take about four weeks.

The new school is expected to open in August 2021. During the one-year construction, students will be housed at Skyline and Solana Highlands Schools.

A message to Solana Vista from a student.

(Karen Billing)