The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) joined the San Pablo community Thursday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the first phase of the Lake Elementary School rebuild.
Just days ahead of the start of school, parents, teachers and students gathered to celebrate the campus opening. The new school building includes a front office, flexible breakout area, learning quad, multipurpose room and the WCCUSD’s first student-accessible gender neutral restroom.
Vice Mayor Arturo Cruz, a former student, said he was blessed to be part of the ribbon-cutting.
“I really appreciate the design of our new school and the warm friendly welcoming colors and much-needed open space and natural light throughout the campus,” Cruz posted online.
KTVU (Ch.2) attended the ribbon cutting and reported from the scene, noting that Lake Elementary School was slated to close a decade ago, but now is brand new. The school was slated to close due to lack of funding back before 2009, but community pressure and financial contribution from the City of San Pablo kept it open, according to the report. A voter-approved bond measure in 2016 set aside funding to rebuild the school.
San Pablo Mayor Patricia Ponce, who had three children attend Lake Elementary and now has a granddaughter at the school, was credited with being at the forefront of the efforts to keep it open.
According to KTVU, the second phase of construction for the school will be completed next year and will include a new multipurpose room and a separate wing for T-K and kindergartners.
