This Friday will be the final day when students of Dinuba High attend school on the current campus.  After several delays, hundreds of hours of construction, and a struggle to get power to the building, the move to the new Dinuba High School campus is officially happening.  Students will begin semester two on the new campus on January 13, 2025. 

The campus was supposed to be completed in August, prior to the start of this school year.  When it became clear that would not happen, arrangements were made to complete the move over Winter Break.  As it is, some areas of the campus will still be under construction as the school begins its second semester.

“We’re going into a facility that’s not finished, and construction will continue for months,” said Adam Guidi, science teacher and the DUSD transition coordinator.

While the majority of the new campus is almost complete, the library is still a work in progress. Mr. Guidi mentions that the library is “the farthest away from being done” as they still need to install shelves and fill them with books. 

A sports complex is not part of this phase.  Therefore, the existing structures in place for these activities will be utilized.

 “We’re going to still be coming back to the old campus and even WIS for some of our extracurricular activities,” said DHS Principal Andrew Popp. Sports such as tennis, swimming, softball, water polo, and track and field will continue to take place at the former campus. Graduation ceremonies will commence at Claud Hebert Field.

As for transportation, Popp noted that a daily shuttle bus will run at 3:30 p.m., transporting students from the new campus to the old one. The bell schedule will remain the same as the previous campus. 

 “Drop-off times and release times are all going to remain the same. We’ve done research around campuses of the size that we’re moving to and the proximity of the buildings, and we feel very confident that our passing period in those times can remain the same. But we’re going to evaluate that over the first semester there,” said Mr. Popp. 

Principal Popp shared that students will receive a digital map of the campus, providing a guide to buildings and classrooms. “Students will get a digital campus map where you can access it. Click on the buildings and see where your teachers and your classes will be,” he said. 

The new campus will have better resources, advanced features, and future growth opportunities.

With the move being finalized and teachers beginning to pack up their classrooms, lingering questions and concerns remain about the new campus.  

Off-Campus Lunch?

One of the biggest questions on students’ minds is whether or not they will be able to go off campus during lunchtime. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t what most students hope for.  Principal Popp has stated that most students cannot leave campus during lunch.  However, students who can present a driver’s license, papers of insurance for their vehicle, and a parking pass issued by the school will be able to go off campus.  If they leave, these students will not be allowed to take other students in their car. 

The surrounding area of the new school doesn’t offer many food options, and the busy highway is a safety issue. The new roundabout is a large part of the reason why staff wants to keep students on campus.  According to Mr. Popp, “Everything comes down to the safety of our students. We don’t want you walking anywhere.” These new rules are in place with students’ best interests in mind. The school will put in safety sidewalks to make it safer for students walking to school. 

Landscaping

One of the most significant components of the new campus is the landscaping set in place for the surrounding area. Until recently, it looked as if the new campus would have little to no landscaping in place at all, with each new drone video of the campus’s construction showing the school surrounded by nothing but plain dirt. Fortunately, there has recently been progress regarding planting greenery around the school. Several different trees have been planted, beds for shrubs have been placed, and sod (established grass) has been planted as well. This is excellent news for the new campus since having plants and greenery around will make the aesthetic of the new school that much nicer and cleaner.

Student Union & Cafeteria 

The all-new Student Union and Cafeteria have been something that staff have been using to get students excited about the prospect of the new school. Principal Popp has stated that pre-made lunches and breakfasts will no longer be available in the new cafeteria. Instead, new staff will be hired to make freshly made meals daily for the student body. Mr. Popp has said that along with these new meals, food items will also be available to purchase. One of the most impressive features of the new campus is the cafeteria, which has a full kitchen with fresh food. Students will be able to grab a bite to eat and socialize with friends in a modern and comfortable setting.  Mr. Popp reveals that the cafeteria even has a pizza oven. Mr. Popp adds that we will be served far better food than at the old campus, and over time, more things will be added to the menu. 

 “The Student Union will be college level,” Mr. Guidi said. The cafeteria is a food court style. “We are working with the head food administration to hire more than 50 people to help run the kitchen at the new school,” stated Mr. Popp.  In addition to this, the student union will have a coffee bar and vending machines owned by the school!

The state-of-the-art facilities and modern design are an upgrade from the old campus. With its college-like layout, the new campus promises to provide students with a unique and inspiring learning environment.

However, during our interview with Mr. Popp and Mr. Guidi, they stated that the student union and cafeteria construction is still underway. If these units of the school are not completed by the time of the move, then the district-mandated food will have to be brought in for breakfast and lunch. This shouldn’t be a problem though, as according to Mr. Popp, the progress of the construction is on track to be completed by opening day.

Farewell Parade

On the last day of school, before winter break, a rally will be held at school to say farewell to this school’s long history. Activities will be available for students to take part in as well. After the rally, there will be a voluntary parade where students and staff will walk from the current campus to the new one. Students can view inside the new gym and the outside of the surrounding buildings but not be allowed to look at the other facilities just yet. Students will have to wait and see for themselves the rest of the school when we return on January 13, 2025. 

Change may be inevitable, but that will never change the spirit and unity of our community, and it is certain that we will carry it with us no matter where we go. Mr. Pops states, “The school just doesn’t represent our staff, administration, and students; we’re a community.”