The new stadiums are necessary in order to provide students with facilities that meet today’s building codes for structural strength, provide access for the disabled, and are earthquake and fire safe as well as energy efficient, said Whittier Union High School District Superintendent Sandy Thorstenson. The schools’ current stadiums were built in the 1950s and ’60s and are worn and out-dated.

The new stadiums also will offer better seating capacity for a broad range of sports. When completed, both stadiums will have the same seating capacity of 7,000. The seating capacity at Pioneer’s stadium is currently around 4,500 and the capacity at California High School’s stadium is about 5,000.

“The district’s priority is to modernize facilities for the benefit of students in order to create improved learning environments in and out of the classroom,” Thorstenson said. “The new stadiums at Pioneer and Cal High will provide our students and our community with much-needed modern, accessible, and safer multi-functional facilities.”

Modernizing and adding new classrooms as well as seismic work are the Board of Trustees’ priorities and the vast majority of the district’s classrooms have been renovated. Renovating existing classrooms and adding more classrooms has made up 80 percent of the district’s modernization projects under both Measure C and Measure W, the two bond measures passed by voters for the sole purpose of modernizing the district’s campuses.

Renovating athletic facilities, courts and pools makes up two percent of the total projects undertaken to date. The athletic fields at each of the five comprehensive high schools will be renovated. Santa Fe High School’s athletic fields were modernized last year.

While Pioneer’s stadium will be built first, the two stadiums will share the same design in an effort to save valuable time and money, said Paul Muschetto, the District’s Associate Superintendent. As work nears completion on the Pioneer stadium, which serves Pioneer’s and Santa Fe High School’s football programs, construction will begin on the stadium for Cal High, he said. Construction on the Pioneer stadium is expected to begin in late July 2012, he said.

The new stadiums’ design is unique in that it will provide seating on two sides of the building and two-tiered seating for the home-side bleachers. The home-side of the building will offer grandstand seating facing the football field and track, while the opposite side will provide seating for baseball and softball games. There will be optimum access to the stadium for the disabled, including an elevator to the mid-point, top of lower level, and to the upper tier. Utilities and lighting also will be updated.

Each stadium also will feature an additional four classrooms, restrooms, a weight room, aerobics room, storage space for all sports equipment, a small concessions area, home team rooms with separate tunnel access, locker rooms, garage area and a press box. After each stadium is built, the school’s playing fields will be renovated.

School officials from Pioneer and California High School said the project will be a huge benefit not only to students, but also to the communities that use the facilities for events.

“I am very excited about the plans for Pioneer’s new stadium,” said Pioneer High School Principal Monica Oviedo. “Our current facilities show their age and lack quality lighting. Pioneer’s and Santa Fe’s students and our community deserve a quality stadium and athletic facilities in which to practice, play, and attend games and events.”

“Last football season, we had to use a back-up generator to run the lights and we almost didn’t host a CIF final because we didn’t have enough seating,” said California High School Principal Bill Schloss. “Our students perform at a very high level both on and off the field and we need up-to-date athletic facilities that keep pace with their learning and their athletic achievements.”

Bids for construction of the Pioneer stadium and updating of the adjoining fields are expected to be received by the district in June. If a bid is submitted at that time that meets the district’s requirements, it will go to the Board of Trustees for approval at its meeting in July. If the Board approves the bid, construction work for the new stadium will begin by the end of July and the project will be expected to be completed during early 2014.

The second phase of the project will begin once the stadium is built and tennis courts are relocated. The second phase will include updating the baseball, and softball fields. New grass and a new irrigation system will be installed. This phase is expected to take six months.

Modernization of the athletic facilities and fields at California High School will be done in much the same way. The stadium will be built first and then the playing fields will be renovated.

Pioneer and Santa Fe High’s varsity football home games will be away games this coming year and will be played at the opponents’ campuses. Lower division games will be played at the Sierra Education Center’s fields or at other available sites in the district.

Undertaking the project in phases will allow for the continued use of baseball and softball fields for practice and for Pioneer’s junior varsity games during the 2013 season. Varsity games will be played at opponents’ facilities. Tennis and soccer teams will play at opponents’ facilities as well.