Santa Maria-Bonita School District

Tunnell School 4th grade teacher David Dubransky was selected by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Maria Valley as the organization's 2019 Volunteer of the Year. Mr. Dubransky has served on the board of the BGCSMV and has volunteered his time and photography skills at the Club for more than 10 years. He is pictured at the Boys & Girls Club annual luncheon with BGCSMV CEO Jeremy Deming.  

We are asking parents and members of the community to participate in an important survey (click here) about our schools. The survey will provide you with a voice in district planning and ensure that actions and services meet the unique needs of our students, schools and community. (Click here for video ) [Fri, Mar 01 at 4:43 PM] [Fri, Mar 01 at 4:48 PM]

On February 28, 2019, the school district broke ground on a new elementary school located in the south east section of the city. The school is scheduled to open in August of 2020. It does not yet have a name. Up to 900 students will attend the school. The Santa Maria-Bonita School District broke ground on a new elementary school on Thursday, February 28. A brief ceremony was held at the school site near the end of the Shepard Drive cul de sac. Local guests, district personnel and city staff were on-hand to watch as school board members, Superintendent Luke Ontiveros and key construction project partners scoop the first ceremonial shovels of dirt. Students from nearby Battles Elementary School, some of whom may attend the new school, shared their imaginative suggestions for creating a perfect new school. "Santa Maria-Bonita has the 11 largest elementary schools and 14 of the 15 largest elementary schools in Santa Barbara County. The construction of this new school is incredibly necessary, greatly appreciated, and cause for celebration, " said Ontiveros. "This will be the district's 17th elementary school, 21st school overall, and will help us keep pace with growth in the community. We are excited to provide the children of Santa Maria with another inspiring, innovative place to learn and grow. " A name has not yet been selected for this K-6 school. A formal naming process will take place while the school is being built. The 10. 76-acre parcel the school will sit on is part of the Enos Ranch property, but that will not be the official name of the school. The elementary school is expected to take a year and a half to build. It will open in August 2020 and can house up to 900 kindergarten through 6th grade students. The land purchase, architectural designs, fees and construction have a combined cost of over $48 million. Desks, computers, books and everything else necessary for a quality educational environment will cost another $2. 5 million. About $30 million of the total cost will be paid for by the money from Measure T, SMBSD's school construction bond measure that local voters approved by 61. 37% in November 2014. The district will fund the remainder of the cost through local developer fees, already received state matching funds, and additional matching funds from the state's recently passed school construction bonds for which the district has applied. SMBSD Board President Veda Flores recalled the effort to pass Measure T. She was actively involved on the bond campaign committee prior to becoming a board member. "We made a lot of phone calls and spoke to thousands of people in the community about the importance of quality schools, " Flores said. "The feedback and support we heard was overwhelming. Santa Maria residents want good schools for their children and their neighborhoods. We are grateful to everyone who voted yes on Measure T and who made this upcoming groundbreaking possible. The new school is a testament to our community's support, and we can't say 'thank you' enough. " In late January, the SMBSD Board of Education awarded the new school construction project to AMG & Associates from Santa Clarita. AMG, which has built a number of schools and city government projects in the state, had the lowest cost responsive bid proposal. AMG also built Jiménez Elementary School in Santa Maria which opened in 2015. "AMG & Associates is very excited to work with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District again, " said Albert M. Giacomazzi, president of AMG. "Our first project with the district was Jiménez Elementary School and it was extremely successful. We are confident that the Measure T-funded school will have the same results. " The campus was designed by the national DLR Group architecture firm which has an office in Los Angeles. “DLR Group’s design for Santa Maria-Bonita’s new elementary school creates dynamic educational spaces that accommodate multiple modes of learning on a safe and secure campus, " said DLR Group Senior Principal Brett Hobza, AIA. "Multi-story academic buildings and community shared-use performance functions define the edges of the site. The campus plan creates a welcoming interior courtyard that provides outdoor collaboration areas and learning opportunities for students. " The school's main buildings are situated in a way that will protect the courtyard learning spaces from much of Santa Maria's seasonal wind. The indoor spaces have also been designed with convenience in mind. “Flexible environments within the school feature movable glass walls and adaptable furniture, allowing students and staff to customize spaces to meet changing educational needs, " Hobza added. Attendance boundaries for the new school will be set by the Board of Education as construction completion nears. Families whose children will attend the new school will be notified well before the start of the 2020-2021 school year. The district’s last groundbreaking was for Jiménez Elementary school in June 2013. That school opened in August of 2015.

Children who turn 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019, are eligible for kindergarten in the 2019-2020 school year. Children who will turn 5 years old between September 2 and December 2 of this year, 2019, can be registered for Transitional Kindergarten. Kindergarten registration for schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District will begin on Wednesday, February 20. Children who turn 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019, are eligible for regular kindergarten in the upcoming 2019-2020 school year.  Registration will also take place for a program called Transitional Kindergarten for children who are slightly younger. Children who will turn 5 years old between September 2 and December 2 of this year, 2019, can be registered for Transitional Kindergarten.   Early registration for kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten is advised. Registration will take place at all elementary schools from 9 a. m. to 11:30 a. m. and 1 p. m. to 2:30 p. m. on weekdays. It is ongoing throughout the next several months, but early registration is recommended. Parents should register at an elementary school close to their home and provide their home address to the office staff. The office staff will be able to tell parents which school their child will attend next school year. Translation and assistance for Spanish-speaking parents is available.  Registering early will help parents ensure a place for their child at the correct school.  Kindergarten classes have a maximum number of students allowed by the state. Students who are registered late may not be able to attend their assigned school if classes are full.   To register for kindergarten or Transitional Kindergarten, parents must provide proof of address (such as a utility bill), legal proof of the child’s age (such as a birth certificate), and the child’s complete immunization records. State law requires that children have the chickenpox vaccine in order to enter kindergarten. DTaP (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), Polio, Hepatitis B and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunizations are also required for school entry. If a child is currently attending Transitional Kindergarten, they do not need to be enrolled in kindergarten by their parents. Their enrollment in kindergarten will take place automatically. Parents who are interested in having their child attend the Dual Language Immersion Program in kindergarten at Jiménez School must attend one of the informational meetings on Wednesday, January 30; Wednesday, February 13; Wednesday, February 27; or Wednesday, March 13,  from 6 - 7 p. m. at the school district office, 708 South Miller.  Call an elementary school or the Santa Maria-Bonita School District at (805) 928-1783 for more information about kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten registration. "

Students at El Camino JH made lunchtime fun and welcoming at No One Eats Alone Day to help make everyone feel like they belong.

If you are interested in having your child attend the Dual Language Program in Kindergarten at Jiménez Elementary School, you must attend one of the following informational meetings: * Wednesday, January 30th * Wednesday, February 13th * Wednesday, February 27th * Wednesday, March 13thAll meetings will be from 6:00pm - 7:00pm at the District's Central office, 708 S. Miller Street, Santa Maria, CA.