SOLEDAD — Soledad Unified School District broke ground Oct. 9 on a new administration building at Gabilan Elementary School, marking another phase of facility improvements funded through Measure E bond funds.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together community members and guests to celebrate the project, which is intended to provide a more functional space for school administration and improve the experience for students, families, staff and visitors.
“This groundbreaking is an exciting milestone for Gabilan Elementary and reflects the District’s continued commitment to improving our school facilities,” said Kevin Sanders, facilities and bond program manager for Soledad Unified School District. “With the support of our community through Measure E, we are able to make improvements that better support our students, staff and families.”
The project will be completed in phases, beginning with construction of the new administration building. Once the new facility is complete and staff have moved in, the existing administration building will be demolished. The final phase will include an expansion of the existing staff parking lot.
Plans for the new building include updated accessibility features to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a staff lounge, restrooms, meeting space and improved energy efficiency. The project also aims to improve the school entry experience, working conditions for staff and facilities for student and family services.
The project team includes Pear Tree + Belli Architects as architect, J.L. Construction as general contractor and Van Pelt Construction Services as construction manager. The full project is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
In a social media post Oct. 12, the district thanked guests and community members who attended the ceremony, as well as the Soledad High School Mariachi Band, led by Mr. Maag, and Soledad High School NJROTC cadets, under the leadership of Chief Dunn, for participating in the celebration.
Soledad Unified School District serves nearly 5,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The district includes five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one community school.
