Education officials in Santa Maria broke ground on a new elementary school near Enos Ranch Thursday.
Construction is scheduled to begin next week on the two-story energy efficient elementary school. Once complete, it will be the 17th elementary school in the city.
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District selected a contractor for the new school in January.
It will be located at College Drive and Meehan Street.
Students from nearby Battles Elementary School were asked what they would like to see at the new school. Some suggested a pool, a Starbucks, and a game room for Fortnite tournaments.
Construction is expected to cost more than $40 million. The Assistant Superintendent for Business Services previously told trustees the total cost could tally up to an estimated $51 million when you include purchasing the site and furnishings. The funding came from Measure T. Voters passed the measure in 2014, which would help provide $45 million to projects.
The school hasn’t been named yet. It will have 26 classrooms.
“The addition of the 17th elementary school is to readjust boundaries to alleviate some of the enrollment in other schools. Our averages will still be among the highest in the county, even with the addition of the elementary school,” said Santa Maria-Bonita School District Superintendent Luke Ontiveros.
The school will serve children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
It is scheduled to open for the 2020 fall semester.
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Contractor selected to build new $51 million Santa Maria elementary school
