Specialized High School on Cal Poly Pomona Campus Cuts Ribbon on New $20 Million Facility

POMONA, Calif., Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International Polytechnic (iPoly) High School, an award-winning program that combines academics with real-world applications and teamwork, today celebrated the grand opening of its new 21-classroom facility located on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona.

"iPoly has truly found an innovative way of promoting achievement among all students. This long-dreamed-of facility will further enhance the school's tradition of excellence," said Arturo Delgado, superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which operates the school in partnership with Cal Poly Pomona.

Since its founding in 1993 and until this school year, iPoly had been located in portable buildings on the university campus. The California Distinguished School serves 500 diverse students, most of whom reside in surrounding communities in the Pomona, San Gabriel and Inland Valleys.

"This grand opening was a long time in coming, and would not have been possible without the support of two visionary people — Cal Poly Pomona President Emeritus Bob Suzuki and former iPoly Principal Elsa Martinez," said Michael Ortiz, president of Cal Poly Pomona. "Without question, their persistence and passion made today a reality that few thought possible. We owe them our thanks because this new facility will create countless new opportunities for us to partner and collaborate."

A tuition-free public school, iPoly offers a college preparatory curriculum focused on project-based learning, and recruits average students who may not succeed to their highest potential in large traditional high schools. iPoly students are encouraged to take concurrent courses at Cal Poly Pomona or at community colleges. Each year, at least 94 percent of iPoly graduates move on to higher education.

The new two-level building offers the latest educational technology and other learning tools previously unavailable to iPoly students, including interactive white boards in each classroom, video production facilities for career-technical education and a computer lab. It features numerous green innovations such as solar panels as well as multipurpose room, administrative areas, outdoor sitting area and central courtyard. It is located on 44,579 gross square feet on 1.5 acres of land on the Cal Poly Pomona campus.

The Office of Education received a "financial hardship" grant of $31.2 million funded through the California School Facilities Program from Propositions 47, 55 and 1D. The total cost of the project was $19.9 million. Any funds not used on eligible expenditures must and will be returned to the California School Facilities Program.

The Office contracted with Ontario-based HMC Architects and construction management firm C.W. Driver for the project. Construction on the facility, located at 3851 W. Temple Ave. in Pomona, began in March 2011 and was completed in August 2012.

The LACOE-Cal Poly Pomona partnership came together in 1991 through a mutual interest in creating a model for education reform by designing and implementing an entire high school course of study using an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach. The goal was to better prepare students for success in higher education and the world of work.

(Note: Photos of the old and new iPoly facilities may be downloaded at: www.lacoe.edu/ipolyphotos. Learn more about iPoly at: www.ipolyhighschool.org.)

SOURCE Los Angeles County Office of Education