Dear PEC Community,
We want to express our gratitude for your continued patience, flexibility, and support as the Paul Ecke Central rebuild moves forward. We are especially thankful for the way our PEC families have embraced the transition to Park Dale Lane and El Camino Creek and helped make the start of the school year such a positive experience for our students and staff. We know this transition has required adjustments for every family, and we deeply appreciate the partnership, understanding, and sense of community you have continued to show along the way.
We also know how deeply our community cares about the PEC rebuild and that many of you are eager for greater clarity, particularly around the timeline for returning to campus. We understand how important that information is as families look ahead, and we want to provide an update on where the project currently stands and what we know at this time.
As Principal Sechrest shared at his Principal Chat on August 14, the project did experience some delays in acquiring our demolition permit over the summer. Throughout the entirety of this process, the District has continued working closely with the City and other agencies to move the project forward as quickly and responsibly as possible.
Phase 1 of our Coastal Development Permit has been issued, and demolition is now well underway. Phase 1 work includes site demolition, rough grading, and underground utility work. All requirements for Phase 2 approval have been submitted and are currently under review. Phase 2 work includes all remaining on-site and off-site aspects of the project. Additionally, we are working on getting approval to continue with grading. We cannot establish an exact date for phase 2 work to begin. This process includes both a review and an appeal period, and we are working closely with the city to complete this step expeditiously. We will inform the PEC community as soon as the phase 2 permit is approved, at which point Balfour Beatty will provide a revised construction schedule.
In the meantime, interior renovation has already started in the original historic schoolhouse, which is being preserved as a central part of the new campus. Previously used as classroom space, the schoolhouse will be thoughtfully renovated and transformed into the new library media center, allowing this important piece of PEC’s history to continue serving generations of students to come.
We recognize that one of the biggest questions for families is when students will be able to return to the Paul Ecke Central campus. As with any major construction project involving multiple regulatory agencies, timelines can evolve as work progresses. Although it's unfortunate we won't be able to reopen in August 2027, we will keep pushing to return students back to PEC as soon as possible.
We remain committed to keeping you informed throughout the permitting and construction process. If you have any questions, please reach out to Principal Sechrest.
