Tim Willert
MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- The shovels came out along with all the hard
hats and the fanfare associated with a big ground-breaking ceremony.
Flanked by the Burbank High School band, Burbank Unified School
District officials gathered in the school parking lot on Tuesday to kick
off $56 million worth of renovations and expansion.
Supt. David Aponik, school board president Trish Burnett and Ali
Kiafar, chief facilities and development superintendent for the district,
were among those who attended the afternoon ceremony in the high school
parking lot.
The modernization and reconstruction is part of a $96-million
construction project to expand and renovate Burbank and John Burroughs
high schools.
A large percentage of Burbank High actually is being replaced, said
Sue Boegh, BUSD spokeswoman.
Classrooms and administrative offices will be remodeled, a new library
and career center will be built and students will be greeted with a new
gymnasium, locker rooms and aquatic center when construction is finished
next year.
The school auditorium cannot be replaced, but it will be modernized,
Boegh said.
Although construction has not begun at Burbank High, there's been
plenty of preparation and demolition taking place.
Sewer lines have been replaced, student and faculty parking lots have
been ripped up and portable classrooms have been moved.
