NEWS RELEASE: Crawford High School Dedicates Transformational Facility, Frontage, with Students, Alumni, and Colina Del Sol Community
News Release
Crawford High School Dedicates Transformational Facility, Frontage, with Students, Alumni, and Colina Del Sol Community
February 8, 2023
SAN DIEGO - After serving students in San Diego Unified School District for more than 65 years, Crawford High School has a dramatic new look due to renovations that have transformed the campus into a state-of-the-art facility.
Past and current students from Crawford High School joined Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson, members of the Board of Education, Principal Dr. Froylán Villanueva, and the community to celebrate the completion of the campus-wide renovations that include a new theater, renovated classrooms, student facilities, and a striking new look in the community.
“As we celebrate Crawford High School, we also celebrate our entire San Diego Unified community and the taxpayers who have invested in our schools and students,” Dr. Jackson said. “It is humbling to be part of a community that values public education, and it is incredibly rewarding to see the results of that investment.”
Upgrades at Crawford include a revamped automotive center that is part of the College, Career and Technical Education CTE program; security upgrades; restrooms, a food services facility, and a new drop-off and pick-up area at the corner of Orange Avenue and Colts Way. A new parking lot is also under construction.
“It’s night and day from the old building,” Principal Villanueva said. “Everyone at Crawford is proud of our campus. This is the teaching and learning environment that our school community deserves.”
Following performances from the cheer team and string quartet, Board of Education Trustee Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne spoke of the school’s college-like facility, while also noting how recent bond measures have improved schools and communities districtwide.
“The recent bond measures have given us the resources to invest in school communities and show our students and staff that they deserve state-of-the-art facilities,” Dr. Whitehurst-Payne said.
Senior and President of the school’s Muslim Student Association, Khadiija Ismail, described the recent transformation as motivational.
“It was inspiring to see the old building come down and to see this new one come to life,” Ismail said. “It’s been really uplifting for each student and has helped immensely with our mental health.”
View: Time Lapse Video of the Crawford High School Transformation
Crawford High School opened its doors on April 27, 1958, just a half mile away from its current location. Named after former San Diego Unified Superintendent Dr. Will C. Crawford started by recruiting students in all grade-levels from Hoover High School and nearby Horace Mann Middle School. The following year, Crawford held its first graduation ceremony.
Track star Arnold Tripp, who graduated from Crawford’s first graduating class in 1959, said he was awe-struck by the new facility.
“It’s breathtaking,” Tripp said during the celebration. “I feel honored to be part of such a monumental moment, especially after seeing this new facility in person.”
The 1959 class also contributed to the school mascot and colors that Crawford High School uses present-day. You can read more about Crawford High School’s history here.
These projects follow several others that have recently been completed at Crawford High, including Whole Site Modernization Phase 1, Whole Site Modernization Phase 2, and multiple sports facilities projects, which all together upgraded and modernized all existing facilities on the Crawford High campus.
For bond project details, please refer to the project fact sheets, or visit http://fpcprojects.sandi.net.
RELATED LINKS:
Drone, time-lapse, and file demolition video of the previous and completed campus, project fact sheets, and ground photos can be found here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jamie Ries, Information Services Specialist, San Diego Unified, [email protected].
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