Remodeling at SLO County Schools

Around SLO County, there are five different schools currently or planning on doing remodels: schools are Baywood Elementary, Pacheco Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Pacific Beach High School, and Teach Elementary.  The main focuses are modernization, funded by a Measure C-22 Bond that was passed by voters in 2022 for SLCUSD, worth around $349 million. There are also some other projects going on at San Luis Obispo High School, as well as Avila Beach Schoolhouse. Some of the major projects include upgrades to safety, new HVAC systems, and overall technology.

The overall goal of these remodeling projects is to improve safety and security in these schools. Some examples of improvements are fencing around the school, adding more security cameras, and interior door locking systems. Another goal is modernizing the old infrastructure on these campuses, for example, upgrading the aging buildings, repairing old roofs, and improving the HVAC systems. Other things include replacing the old carpet and repaving the old pavement. There are also upgrades coming to classrooms by upgrading technology and learning environments to support students’ learning better.

The largest projects are Baywood Elementary, Pacheco Elementary, and Pacific Beach High School. At Baywood, a complete change is planned, where a new campus will be built on the current field area. Chris Peoples said, “We will build a whole new campus on the east half of campus and then basically flip-flop the layout.” After the new campus is built, the old one will be demolished. The construction will most likely start during the 2026-27 school year.

At Pacheco, the remodeling plan is happening in different phases, with plans for modernizing classrooms, the multipurpose Room and the library. At Pacific Beach, there is currently a new campus being built on the current campus, which is expected to be completed next school year. The project includes a new multipurpose room, new modern high-volume classrooms, as well as new athletic facilities like a basketball court and pickleball courts, being added to the new campus.

Some other major projects going on are SLO High School and Hawthorne Elementary. At SLO High School, there are some ongoing improvement projects to upgrade the older campus infrastructure. This follows a $100 million renovation that added new buildings, a pool, and a stadium. At Hawthorne Elementary School, they are currently working on upgrades that include new ADA access, classroom modernization, as well as sewer/restroom improvements, which are expected to be completed this winter.