Stories this Week: Summerland Elementary School Re-Opens

by Joanne A Calitri

On Saturday January 28, the Summerland Elementary School held a community-wide reception to celebrate the re-opening of the school. After being closed since summer 2021, this re-opening signifies a complete rebuild from the soil on up to new classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a library, an office and an outdoor playground funded by Measure U at approximately just under eight million dollars. During construction, over 50 students, teachers and staff had relocated to the Carpinteria Main school.

It was all love and thanks as the Summerland community joined with the school’s teachers, students, the Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) members, the architects, construction crews, funders and neighbors. Guests were greeted by students handing out their thank you note drawings. The school’s mascot and motto, “Home of The Waves” is back in full and ready to go.

The formal program commenced with a welcome by CUSD President Diana Rigby who spoke about the project. She then introduced the speakers, which included CUSD Board President Jaime Diamond, Summerland Citizens Association President Phyllis Noble with Kathy West on the history of the school, with former Summerland Elementary teacher Ceil Schnepple sharing anecdotes of student life and teaching at the school. The team efforts were then talked about by KBZ architects Joe Wilcox and Dawn Ziemer, Elizabeth McGillivray of McGillivray Construction, Jay Sullivan representing the Measure U Team, the project’s funding discussed by CUSD Assistant Superintendent Maureen Fitzgerald, and Krissy Yonker of Parents for Summerland (the school’s PTA) speaking for herself and the other co-presidents, Tammy Lashlee and Heather Pozzebon

In closing, Rigby directed all the teachers and students up for the ribbon cutting to

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Results Matter

“Thank you so much for your guidance and support during the purchase of our first home. From the time we first connected, it was clear to us why your team is the best of the best. We will always feel grateful that you championed for us. We can’t wait to work with you again for our next property!”

-Kendal and Mike