WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of a new, state-of-the-art campus to replace the aging facilities.
WHEN: Monday, June 5 at 9:30am
WHERE: Edward Kemble Elementary, 7495 29th St, Sacramento, CA 95822
Ceremony to be held on field closest to intersection of Torrance Ave and Tisdale Way
VISUALS: Elected and school officials will break ground with a shovel ceremony and make remarks. Students will be on hand for the event including a 2nd Grader who will be young enough to return to the school when the brand new campus re-opens in Fall 2025.
 

Sacramento, CA - Sacramento City Unified School District will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. to begin construction of a new campus at the site of Edward Kemble Elementary and Cesar Chavez Intermediate school. Kemble/Chavez will be the first new school constructed in Sac City Unified in nearly two decades. When completed in Fall 2025, the rebuild will combine Edward Kemble Elementary (TK-3) and Cesar Chavez Intermediate (4-6) into one visionary campus with state of the art facilities that will revitalize the entire neighborhood and benefit students and families for decades to come. The new campus will feature an oversized multipurpose room, a STEAM lab, a community room, several shade canopies, a U14 soccer field, and an overall focus on energy efficiency and environmental conservation

The age, location and demographics of the schools were all key factors in the district’s decision to construct a new campus. Edward Kemble was first built 60 years ago (1963) as a traditional K-6 Elementary, while Cesar Chavez was added on the adjacent property in 2001 to address an immediate and sharp increase in enrollment. Chavez was created as an all-portable classroom site with little to no outdoor amenities for students such as play structures or open field access. The new Kemble/Chavez campus will be an asset to the entire surrounding community.

Kemble/Chavez is the first of three campus rebuilds that will take place with Measure H funds. Groundbreakings are also scheduled later this month at Nicholas Elementary and at Oak Ridge Elementary in September. These campuses were specifically chosen for improvements based on high segregation and poverty indicators and other factors identified by Sac City Unified’s award-winning Facilities Master Plan Equity Index that can be found at www.scusdplan.org.

“The construction of the new Kemble/Chavez Elementary and Intermediate Schools is a direct reflection of the District’s unwavering commitment to equity and improving the outcomes of students who have been historically underserved” said Jorge A. Aguilar, Superintendent, SCUSD. “At Sac City Unified, our belief is that facilities planning is neighborhood planning and that approach is reflected in the design of this ultramodern campus. Our hope and expectation is that this new campus will change young lives and make a positive impact on the neighborhood and its families that lasts for generations.”

“SCUSD uses an equity lens to prioritize school facilities investments,” said Chinua Rhodes, SCUSD Board President. “Construction of a new Kemble/Chavez campus is a significant investment in a deserving community. I look forward to seeing how the new campus will enrich learning for students and add architectural value to South Sacramento.”

The beginning of construction is the culmination of years of strategic planning and community collaboration, beginning with the passage of Measure H by Sacramento voters in March of 2020. The $750 million general obligation bond provided Sac City Unified with the funding to begin making some of the estimated $3.5 billion in facilities needs identified across the district.

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