In July, the Fontana Unified School District (FUSD), the twelfth largest school district in California, started what looks to be a promising beginning under the leadership of the new Superintendent, Cali Olsen-Binks. The seasoned administrator offers a rich background in school administration and teaching that will compliment the rich past of the district as well as strongly bring students into the future.

“The citizens of Fontana support this district with their time, their talents, and with a $275 million general obligation bond to build the new schools needed to support the continuous growth in size. It is both my privilege and my pleasure to serve this district,” says Olsen-Binks.

Goals

The Superintendent has agreed to an 18 month contract with an option of continuing if both she and the school board agree at that time to continue. During those 18-months a lot will happen. In her role as Superintendent, Olsen-Binks is responsible for coordinating a comprehensive program that must include safeguards to ensure continued future successes.

Working with board guidelines, she manages the current 41 schools within the  district, which encompasses a little over 42,000 K-12 students, and will oversee the improvement of alternative education, expansion of the GATE program, and construction of a new high school as well as refurbishment of existing schools.

A large part of the success of these major tasks will be through partnerships.  By working with the City and the Fontana Boys and Girls Club to provide safe and challenging academic after school programming or by encouraging family involvement in a student’s school, Olsen-Binks knows a significant step can be made as a community.

“We recognize,” says Olsen-Binks, “that it truly takes a partnership between home and school to provide the best experience for a child.  There are many opportunities for our families to partner with us.”

These partnerships will help alternative education students succeed, encourage the expansion of the GATE programs, and construction and redevelopment of buildings, such as the Jurupa Hills High School, will open doors for successful students, educators, and residents.

Jurupa Hills High School (#5)

With an aging school infrastructure and an expanding community that made the school district one of the fastest growing in the state, FUSD will now focus attention on some of the needs of older schools.

According to the FUSD website, the school district has six needs to address. Repair outdated plumbing and bathrooms; construct handicap accessible ramps; air conditioning improvements; improve traffic flow; build libraries; and build and equip additional elementary schools.

Of these, elementary, middle, and high school needs that are of immediate attention include libraries and multipurpose rooms at two schools, the construction and equipping of eight new elementary schools.  Three new middle schools, one high school, and one continuation school also need to be built.

In 2006 a $275 million general obligation bond was passed by residents to help support the construction of new schools to keep up with the growing community. As a result several schools have been built and a new, highly anticipated high school, will open at the end of Olsen-Binks’ 18 month contract in 2010/2011.

The new 9-12th grade comprehensive high school will have a 2,042 student capacity and will be built on a 45-acre site at Slover and Santa Ana Avenues and Citrus and Oleander Avenues. The acreage is slightly larger than the new 38-acre Fontana Park at Summit Avenue and Lytle Creek, but is still smaller than most 60-acre school sites.  The project costs are estimated at $124 million.

“I am very excited to be the Superintendent during the construction of our Fifth Comprehensive High School in Fontana Unified School District. It will serve the Southern section of Fontana well and the design is very exciting,” adds Olsen-Binks.

The amenities in the all-under-one-roof design include energy efficiency, a guard against the wind,  78 classrooms including labs, and a 4,000 seat Football Stadium. 

For construction updates, please visit www.fusd.net/Construction. To read more about FUSD or Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks, please visit www.fusd.net.