Mira Mesa High School's new classroom and student services facility is now complete and ready for staff and students to use when they return for the new year.

Students and staff celebrated the milestone on Thursday with Board of Education Vice President Sabrina Bazzo and Superintendent Dr. Fabi Bagula, accompanied by cheer performances and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Located at the front entrance on Marauder Way, the new facility is part of the second phase of the Whole Site Modernization project and serves as the main entryway to the campus. Once staff move into the new building in January, the existing student services facility will be converted into new classrooms.

"This is the only building visitors can enter when they come to Mira Mesa High School, so we wanted it to be both safe and inviting," said Principal Jeff Sabins. "We also wanted a space that reflects the dedication and commitment our students and staff make every day. Now, it's time to watch our vision come to life when we return next year."

Along with the new student services and classroom facility, the biomedical sciences, media center, food, and arts buildings have all been renovated, new shade and lunch structures have been installed, and a visitor parking lot has been constructed. Following these renovations, the existing administration/student services building 100 will be converted into a classroom building, and renovations will be done to the classroom building 600 and the gymnasium. Additionally, portable classrooms will be removed, and the southeast parking lot will be expanded.

"This is not simply a ribbon-cutting; it is a celebration of what this space will mean in the years ahead," said Bagula. "It is a place where students will build knowledge, strengthen relationships, pursue their interests, and prepare for college and careers."

These upgrades follow a series of renovations at the 50-year-old campus.

In Spring 2023, construction was completed on baseball field renovations, which included new grass infield and outfield, foul ball fencing, and a CIF regulation backstop at the baseball field, a new public address system and drinking fountain, replacement of the announcers' booth, repairs to the dugouts and batting cages, and upgrades to grading and irrigation.

The field followed the completion of the first phase of the Mira Mesa High School Whole Site Modernization project, which included the construction of one of the district's largest music buildings, renovations to existing classrooms, upgrades to collaborative workspaces in the media center, and the creation of outdoor learning spaces.

Other recent projects include renovations to the CCTE Engineering, Automotive Technology, and Culinary Arts facilities, as well as the installation of photovoltaic solar energy panels over the parking lots on the north and southeast sides of campus.

"These improvements are more than construction projects; they are deliberate investments in student learning, well-being, and future opportunities," said Bazzo. "We're excited to see where the next 50 years will take Mira Mesa High School."

Estimated to be completed in fall 2027, the Whole Site Modernization Phase II project also includes a new student services facility and classrooms at Twain High School, a school designed to provide a smaller, more individualized learning environment for students who need additional support. Improvements were also made to facilities utilized by TRACE, a program supporting young adults with disabilities, and Diploma, a program of the San Diego Adult School that offers alternative education pathways for students over 18, providing opportunities to earn a high school diploma.