Community members living in neighborhoods near Hardy Elementary School were recently mailed an invitation to join staff and school families at a workshop about plans for campus modernization. This is an opportunity to meet Hardy’s new principal and provide input to the Design Task Force.
Two meeting options have been scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17 and Wednesday, Jan. 31. Workshops will be held in the school auditorium at 5420 Montezuma Road.
Kristy Aragon, who was recently welcomed as the new principal of Hardy, is encouraging participation in the workshops, saying, “I hope our Hardy Owl families and our community neighbors will take an active role in planning the transformation of our incredible school. This modernization will greatly help our Hardy team provide for the current and future educational needs of our students, ensure we have safe and productive instructional environments, and enable us to enrich the overall student experience.”
Hardy School is adjacent to San Diego State University (SDSU) and has served the College West community for 67 years. Hardy is designated as a “Leader in Me” campus which currently serves 391 students in universal transitional kindergarten (age 4) through fifth grade. This school-wide program is based on the principles of Steven Covey‘s best-selling book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and aims to help students develop leadership and life skills to succeed in school and beyond.
In addition to regular instructional use, Hardy campus facilities are used to engage students in many school clubs and activities. When the school field isn’t being used by students, it serves as a Joint Use Park for College Area residents. It is open to the public during established non-school hours and for weekend use through a partnership with the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department.
Hardy Elementary School is named for Dr. Edward L. Hardy (1868-1958). Hardy was appointed president of the State Normal School in 1910, then located at Park Boulevard and Normal Street. He was the second president and remained in that position for 25 years, retiring in 1935. During his tenure the college was relocated to Montezuma Mesa, a 125-acre site which was purchased for $50,000. The name was changed to San Diego State College when it opened in 1931 and later to SDSU, as we know it today. Over the years, SDSU has been a Hardy Community Partner, placing University students on campus to fulfill teacher credentialing requirements, provide physical education programming and support for theater arts, technology support, and even visitations by foreign educators.
As the Hardy Parent Teacher Association President, Patrizia Baynes is working to build relationships among parents and teachers in support of students. As a school parent and PTA leader, she believes, “As our neighborhood and the Hardy community grow, there is a need for Hardy to expand alongside. This is an exciting time to help shape the future for the Hardy Owls to ensure they have the resources to soar, benefitting both them and our community.”
Please join the San Diego Unified School District project team, architects, and others to learn about proposed upgrades and give your input to changes which the District invitation says may include, “building systems repairs or replacement, as well as improvements to support learning and instruction; health, safety, and security; accessibility and code compliance; and energy, efficiency, and sustainability.”
Capital improvements are funded by the School District’s Propositions S and Z, and Measures YY and U, approved by voters in 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022.
For more information go to:
https//hardy.sandiegounified.org
SDUSD Facilities Planning and Construction Division (858) 637-3604.
Discussion about this post