Rancho San Juan High School celebrates grand opening
It’s the start of a new chapter for hundreds of lucky Salinas students. Their new school, Rancho San Juan High, is finally complete.
The school is the newest addition to the Salinas Union High School District and the first new high school to be built in Monterey County in the last 24 years. The district has been working on the project for around 16 years. ” I get to be first. In a way, I’m special, ” said rising freshman, Ashley Roman.
Freshman and Sophomore students will be the first to wear the school’s ” orange and purple, ” score the game’s winning points, and break in the brand-new textbooks. Students said they are ready to get the traditions started. ” I’m most excited about leaving a good vision for the school and for the classes that come after us, ” said rising sophomore, Victor Oregon.
The journey to get to ” grand opening day ” wasn’t easy. Administrators faced challenges in building the massive school.
In May, the district told KION that $300,000 in construction projects had yet to be completed. The district was on a deadline with the start of summer classes in June. ” The whole focus has been on providing a great learning environment for students. Maybe it didn’t hit our exact date up front, but at the same time here we are. It’s a beautiful facility, ” said Salinas Union High School District Superintendent, Dan Burns.
For Salinas native, Al Mortensen, Friday’s grand opening hit home. His father farmed the land, that is now Rancho San Juan High School, for 70 years. Mortensen said if his dad was still here, today, he would be proud. ” This property made some great crops. I think the students will excel like the crops did, ” said Mortensen.
The students said they are enthusiastic to start building the legacy of their mascot: the ” trailblazer. ” ” It sounds kind of cliche to say, but I want to trailblaze a good future for the future students that come here, ” said rising sophomore, Guy Pimentel .
Classes at Rancho San Juan High School will officially begin on August 7th .
