Nipomo High School starts modernization project to replace portable classrooms

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) - A multi-phased modernization project to replace aging portable classrooms at Nipomo High School is now underway.

Over spring break last week, Lucia Mar Unified School District began work with the removal of eight portable classrooms that were located in the middle of the campus, with an additional nine to be moved in the near future.

"This is relatively a new school that opened in 2002," said Nipomo High School Principal John Denno. "However, over 80% of the classroom buildings were portable and so this is long overdue for us to actually get some permanent structures on our campus. We have 17 classrooms that are being removed and we'll have 17 brand new classrooms here in about 18 months."

Once all of the portables are removed, the ensuing construction project will replace the old buildings with brand new "stick frame" constructed classrooms.

"Permanent, structures are really nice because each of these portable classrooms are 20 feet by 40 feet," said Denno. "It's a rectangular build and sometimes it makes it very challenging for teachers to configure their classrooms in the best learning environment to engage students. The new stick built classrooms will be more square in shape that allow for much more engaging classroom space."

Denno, who has been principal at the school since 2014, added the new classrooms will provide students several more advantages to their overall educational experience, as well as the school and district.

"Not only for just the morale of the campus, and the pride that the community has," said Denno. "We have a lot of permanent buildings at the entry points of our campus, but once you're on the campus, we've got a large percentage of our classrooms are portable. They are not energy efficient. In fact, Nipomo High School has one of the largest energy bills in the district due to the fact that portable classrooms don't retain heat and they don't retain cool air. They're a much better educational setting. The configuration being a little more open, a little freer for teachers to reconfigure classrooms. Teachers will kind of get away from that, row and column structure, and have forward facing classroom space where students can work more collaboratively and focus on those 21st Century skills."