Our Brand New Gym is Open!

PRESS RELEASE

Sonora Elementary School District Opens New Gymnasium to Serve Students, Staff, and Community

Sonora, CA – September 8, 2025 – Sonora Elementary School District is proud to announce the grand opening of its brand-new gymnasium, a 6,500-square-foot facility designed to expand opportunities for students, athletes, and the broader school community. The project, three years in the making, represents a major investment in student wellness, athletics, and school infrastructure.

A State-of-the-Art Facility

The new gym measures 67 feet by 97 feet, offering a modern, designated space for Physical Education classes and school athletics. Until now, the school relied on its multipurpose room for both cafeteria services and PE activities. The addition of the gym allows the multipurpose room to fully serve its role as a cafeteria, providing smoother meal services without scheduling conflicts with PE.

• Key features of the new gym include:
• Dedicated restrooms in the lower recess area for student convenience.
• A ticket booth and increased seating to better accommodate families and guests.
• A 22-foot-high ceiling designed specifically with volleyball in mind.
• A state-of-the-art wooden floor built to enhance athletic performance and safety.
• Solar panels to offset energy use, supported by an energy efficiency grant that lowered costs by nearly $100,000.

“This gym is more than just a building—it’s a dream realized,” said Superintendent Cheryl Griffiths. “It gives our students a place to learn, compete, and thrive while also improving the overall campus experience. Having a dedicated space for PE and sports frees up our multipurpose room to better serve daily meal needs, assemblies, and performances. This is a tremendous win for our school community.”

Expanding Student Programs

Sonora Elementary School is home to a vibrant athletics program for grades 6–8, serving between 140 and 160 student athletes each year. Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports, including basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cross country, and track.

The new facility will support PE, sports practice, home games, league play, and long-standing athletic traditions such as:

• JAK Pre-Season Boys’ Basketball Tournament (since 1976): More than 20 games across six days for 7th and 8th grade athletes.
• Coach Classic Girls’ Volleyball Tournament (40+ years): Hosting at least 20 teams annually and more than 30 games, making it one of the largest volleyball events in the region.

With expanded seating and improved amenities, the new gym will also create a more enjoyable experience for parents, families, and community spectators.

Project Timeline, Partnerships, and Funding

The gym construction project began in September 2024 and was completed in less than a year, opening on September 8, 2025.

• Architect: California Design West (Garret Feasel, Architect)
• Contractor: Boyer Construction, Inc. (Jesse Oliva, Vice President and Senior Project Manager)
• Project Cost: Approximately $5 million

Superintendent Griffiths worked diligently to secure funding. Sonora Elementary School received a total of $6,365,644 in reimbursements from the California Office of Public School Construction (OPSC). Under the School Facility Program (SFP) and California Education Code Section 17070.63, these funds are restricted for facility improvements and could not be redirected to non-facility needs. Applying the funds to the gym ensured alignment with state requirements while directly benefiting students and the school community.

“Thanks to the leadership of our Board, the expertise of California Design West, and the dedication of Boyer Construction, we were able to complete this facility on time and with quality that will last for decades,” said Griffiths. “Special thanks go to Jesse Oliva and his crews for leading construction from start to finish and making this project possible in under a year.”

Role of the Multipurpose Room

With the opening of the gym, the existing Multipurpose Room (MPR) will continue serving as the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch, as well as hosting assemblies, performances, rainy-day schedules, and classroom activities. By removing PE from the MPR’s schedule, students will now benefit from improved meal service and greater availability of the space for enrichment activities.

Board Planning and Community Involvement

Before moving forward with construction, the Sonora Elementary School Board held multiple Facilities Workshops to review options and gather public input. During these workshops, Design West Architects presented multiple design options with cost estimates. The meetings were open to the public, ensuring transparency and opportunities for feedback before final decisions were made.

Celebrating with Students and Community

A grand opening committee was appointed, with members representing the Board, school administration, parents, teachers, and office staff, to determine the best way to celebrate this momentous occasion. The committee decided to begin with an Grand Opening event during the school day for students and staff, and follow that with an Open House for parents and the community to be held in conjunction with the Annual Jog-A-Thon. 

The Grand Opening Ceremony was held on Monday, September 8, 2025, with the entire student body and staff in attendance. The event included a flag salute, ribbon cutting, plaque presentation, and speeches recognizing the efforts of all who made the project possible.

While the grand opening was a student-focused celebration, parents and community members are invited to attend the Open House/Jog-A-Thon, or attend any of the upcoming events to see the new gym in action:

• Friday, September 26 – Jog-A-Thon & Parent/Community Open House
• Tuesday, September 16 – Girls’ Home Basketball Game
• Wednesday, September 17 – Annual Rapp’s Run
• Tuesday, September 23 – Girls’ Home Basketball Game
• Wednesday, September 24 – Girls’ Home Basketball Game

“We are excited to open our doors to families and community members,” said Griffiths. “This gym will not only support our student-athletes, but it will also be a gathering place for events and traditions that bring our school community together.”

Looking Ahead

The opening of the Sonora Elementary gym represents the district’s commitment to continuous improvement of its facilities and student programs. With a modern, energy-efficient space for PE, sports, and community events, the new gym will serve generations of Bobcats to come.