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Students have already discovered its benefits, but now others in the community will have an opportunity to visit South Pasadena High’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) building during a public opening next month.
Light refreshments will be served and the SPHS Jazz Band will be performing on April 24, from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m., as community members are welcome to tour the facility on the Diamond Avenue side of the campus.
SPUSD Superintendent Geoff Yantz will make opening remarks around 6 p.m. and introduce elected officials in attendance. Board of Education President Dr. Suzie Abajian will share her thoughts along with South Pasadena High Principal Janet Anderson.
Attendees will then be invited to tour the building. The event will conclude by 6:30 p.m. when the SPHS Spring Open House is scheduled to begin.
Classes officially were held inside the structure on Tuesday, January 22, as students left portables in favor of the building at 1318 Diamond Avenue featureing four science labs, six regular classrooms for mathematics instruction, a flex lab (allowing for different programs to be taught), a conference room, student and faculty restrooms, and a locker room for the girls’ softball team.
In the science labs, chemistry, along with physics, will primarily be instructed.
“We’re very excited for the school, the students, the teachers who will benefit from this building,” said South Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Geoff Yantz.
“These labs are much needed,” he insisted. “Before the building opened, it required teachers to share labs, having them move to room to room to room. There was just an overall demand for more science labs and I’m now glad we have them.”
Bulldozers started clearing the area, including a pair of tennis courts, in late 2017. Construction, which took about 13 months to complete, was funded from Measure SP, the local $98 million bond measure passed by South Pasadena voters in November 2016.
This is the most substantial project, the largest, using Measure SP funds,” explained Yantz. “It’s a project the (school) board had started discussing about 10 years ago, talking about the need, and now it’s being accomplished. We’re fortunate the community supported Measure SP, making this project a reality.”
The event is open to the public.
For more information, call (626) 441-5810.
