Makeover Almost Complete at Murrieta Valley High School

Murrieta Valley High School Principal Renate Jefferson proudly held up the school's revised Nighthawk logo Tuesday while construction activity buzzed around her.

The Nighthawk's proud, more defined beak and sharpened black and red feathers symbolize a continuing legacy at the 20-year-old campus, but also tell of a new day.

When the University of Iowa sent the school a letter last year asking it to change its logo because it replicated theirs, the campus was already slated for a makeover. Changing the look of the Nighthawk only sweetened the deal.

"We wanted something strong. This hits right on our vision," Jefferson said about the logo, which was designed by Greg Wray, husband to district board member Margi Wray. A committee went through several designs before deciding on one.

And a new, aesthetic look was what officials were going for when undertaking a nearly $4-million renovation to the campus this summer.

Paint in shades of brown and tan is congruent throughout all exterior walls. Copper roof accents catch the eye. Concrete that had to be torn up was replaced by decorative flagstone, and gum caked on other areas was sandblasted away. Freshly-planted trees offer shade and a stage area in the quad gives students a place to congregate for events.

When at least 2,300 students return to school Thursday, they will get to explore the look and feel. The challenge will be picking out a new hang out spot, as the makeover gives more seating and shaded areas.

It has taken crews nearly every day during the past eight weeks to perform the work. The project was part of a larger $10 million spent throughout the district this summer while students were away--the funding for which was taken from Measure E bond money approved by voters in 2006 to be used strictly for capital improvements.

Besides putting new air conditioning and roofing in and cosmetically improving the Murrieta Valley campus, new air conditioning and roofing was also installed at Avaxat and Alta Murrieta elementary schools. Tovashal Elementary School as well as Shivela and Thompson middle schools got new roofing.

Perhaps the biggest undertaking and the most welcomed by Murrieta Valley students will be air conditioning in the gym. That work started before school even ended, officials said.

"The gym AC will be turned on on Thursday," said Bill Olien, assistant superintendent of facilities. "Structurally it was hard because it was never designed to add AC."

Across campus, all units will use approximately 30 percent less electricity, he said.

Thirty-five classrooms also received new air conditioning, and all classrooms and hallways were painted.

Finishing touches such as signage throughout the campus--which will bear the new Nighthawk logo--lighting, and new marquees at both entrances, will be completed by the end of August.

"The project would never have been done in two months," Olien said. "The focus was getting ready for the kids. We are ready to start school on Thursday but the work will continue until the end of August."

Next summer, Olien said phase two at the campus will include air conditioning and roofing for the administration area, library and additional classrooms.

Jefferson awaits Back-to-School Night on Aug. 29, which she says will be the big reveal. It will be a little "Extreme Home Makeover" style, especially if she can get the school's band bus to pull away from the curb.

In an effort to keep the campus looking sharp, Jefferson envisions student groups adopting sections they would be responsible for.

"When you look at how much has been done, this is a perfect way for students to come back to school," Jefferson said.