GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - A modest crowd gathered on March 27 for the Gridley High School’s new building unveiling.

Gridley High School was in dire need of additional space for its growing student body, facilities for its severely disabled students and modernized classrooms to house the Career and Technological Education courses known as the CTE-pathway.

The new 500 wing at Gridley High School was on the school district’s drawing board with district funds set aside for the much-needed facility when Measure J, a $16.3-million bond, passed. The bond passing enabled the school district to receive a 50/50 funding match from the State of California for new projects and a 60/40 funding match for modernization. As much of the Gridley High School has not changed in decades, Measure J was a huge win for the district and allowed the allotment of funds set aside for the development of the 500 wing to be shifted to other projects throughout the high school campus and other school district campuses.

 Attendees of the GHS Grand Opening celebrating the completion of the new 500 wing are lead on a tour by GUSD Superintendent Justin Kern.

Superintendent Justin Kern and Gridley Chamber of Commerce President Lynne Spencer hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new 500 wing of Gridley High School. Kern gave a few words of thanks to community members who supported Measure J, a bond that helped fund the new building’s construction and modernization.

Because the unveiling occurred under poor weather conditions, Kern wanted community members to know that anyone wanting to tour the new building can contact the school district or high school office for an appointment. After a final thanks “to Dan” from Slater and Sons “for his excellent work on the building,” according to Kern, the “Big Scissors” were brought out.

Gridley Unified School District Board President Eric Waterbury cut the ribbon while surrounded by co-workers and community members. Kern then led a tour for all attendees.

The first stop was the newly-designed classroom for the severely disabled. The spacious room is equipped with a washer and dryer for clothes, and a bathroom with shower and cleaning facilities, including a lift. The classroom also houses a small kitchen area, including a stove and oven. Kern said that it wouldn’t be long before “Linda has the room smelling like cookies and other treats.”

The next tour stop across the hallway was the health sciences classroom with modern science classroom aesthetics.

 Superintendent Justin Kern and GHS Principal Rikki-Lee Burresch (both left), speak to guests during the Grand Opening and tour of the new 500 wing of Gridley High School.

The other six classrooms were the standard layout with neatly aligned desks facing an interactive Smart Board. Kern highlighted the new digital clocks in the back of the classroom that double as a PA system. In emergencies, the clock can display a quiet message to teachers.

All the classrooms’ windows were tinted with a film that makes it easy to see from inside the classroom looking out but is hard to see inside the classroom with a mirror like reflection. Other security features include interior and exterior cameras.

According to Kern, a fortuitous encounter with Dean Smith of D&D Learning Spaces resulted in the new wing being furnished by Smith and his company.

Kern mentioned future Gridley High School projects include the demolishing of old buildings to make way for new structures, due to Measure J funding.

For more information on Measure J, refer to the “Measure J: The Breakdown” article in the Oct. 28, 2022 issue of the Gridley Herald, which is available online.