By TR Robertson
If you haven’t driven down Bobier Drive lately you may have missed a major change under construction at the 220 W. Bobier address, namely the complete renovation, remodeling and rebuilding of the seventy-year-old Bobier Elementary School. This major Vista Unified School District project is on track for reopening in August of 2026. Meeting with Chris Dowler, Principal Project Manager from Project Professionals Corporation, Chris said the school is currently 70% completed and is meeting all deadlines for opening in August.
The full campus rebuild of the aging Bobier Elementary campus is a $75 million portion of the $247 million dollar Measure LL Facility Bond improvement project passed by voters in 2018. Other LL projects that have been completed include the Tech Education Facility at Rancho Buena Vista High School and two new campus buildings completed at Vista High School. For Bobier Elementary a concept design was approved by the VUSD Board of Trustees on November 17, 2022, approving Ruhnau Clarke Architects to work in partnership with a VUSD planning team. The planning team was headed by Dr. Shawn Loescher, VUSD Assistant Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer of Business and Operations Support Services, working with Kevin Kirby, Director of Maintenance, Operations and Grounds Department; Ben Williams, Maintenance Manager; and Anthony Arias, Grounds Manager. The construction team selected was Bernards Builders contractors. The building designs and initial construction concepts were also aided by a committee of staff members, students and parents.
Demolition of the 70-year-old site began in the summer of 2024 as a 2-year project set for completion and reopening of the school in the Fall of 2026. The approximately 500 students and Principal Melanie Paliotti and her staff were relocated to VUSD’s Beaumont Elementary School, which had been scheduled for closer in June of 2024. The anticipated enrollment of the new Bobier Elementary School is set at 650 students, Preschool to grade 5. Beaumont Elementary School is scheduled for decommission after Bobier Students move back into their rebuilt school.
The new modern campus will feature three new buildings, one of them is a spacious 2-story complex. Overall, the construction will be an 84,000 square foot project featuring 32 classrooms as well as administration offices. Part of the project also includes a new Library, STEM Lab, Multi-purpose room, 10,000 square foot courtyard with a synthetic playfield, a track complex, adaptable learning spaces, parking lots and solar units. The large multi-purpose room also serves as an indoor eating area and has a stage area for various productions and meetings and is next to a modern full-service kitchen along with a covered eating area. Each of the classrooms average 950 square feet with pre-school/kindergarten classrooms averaging 1,100 square feet with separate teacher workspace areas. The spacious classrooms all have large whiteboards, each set at heights for elementary children. They all have ample storage areas and sinks. The front office entrance not only has the expected office spaces for administrative staff, nurses’ office, teacher workspace, and principal’s office; but also has a community room in the front that can be adapted into a larger meeting area. An elevator also is in the front office area for the 2nd floor access as well as stairs available. The buildings are designated as Building A – administration and classrooms, a two-story complex; Building B – the large MPR area, kitchen and music rooms; and Building C – Library, STEM and general classrooms. There is also a kiln for art classes. Ample staff and student restrooms are available in each building space. Bobier Elementary will be an all-electric complex with no gas in any building.
The large outdoor area has a play area for pre-school and kindergarten that is separated from the grade one through 5 students; a large play area for upper grade students that includes softball fields and a track with easy access from the main campus. Synthetic playfields will be part of the outdoor areas. New perimeter fencing will surround the campus that will also include security cameras in designated areas. The student drop-off lot was increased in size along with front lot parking as well as a separate bus lot pick-up and drop-off location. The front will also include an electronic marque to advertise Bobier Bronco activities. Program Manager Chris Dowler said she anticipates various artwork pieces will decorate some of the buildings in the future depicting the Bronco nickname and school name. Chris also said interest in the new Bobier Elementary School rebuild is high with parents contacting the district about enrolling their students.
Parents, students, staff and administration personnel, and Vista Unified Board of Trustees are all looking forward to the opening of the newly redesigned and remodeled Bobier Elementary School completing a 2-year project and bringing a long anticipated reopening of the school..
