Barstow undergoes major improvements thanks to benefactors

By Kathy Feist

Thanks to several benefactors, Barstow Schools has been busy lately with major school improvements  with the promise of more for the 2023-24 school year. 

Athletics – In March Barstow completed its newly turfed baseball field which also featured new dugouts, batting cage and scoreboard. Last summer, the soccer field received new turf. Both fields helped produce a district winning soccer team and state finalist baseball team. 

This fall, construction will begin on the Knights Athletic Building. The $3.5 million athletic building, will be equipped with golf simulator hitting bays and a practice putting green, dance studio, team meeting room, team locker rooms, spectator restrooms and a concession stand. The two-story building is expected to open in the fall of 2024.

A $500,000 renovation of the PE locker rooms included digital combination lockers, new showers, equipment storage and contemporary space for team meetings. 

Early Childhood Center – Renovation is underway to provide more space and a partial canopy for students in the early childhood program. The pergola-style canopy will provide shade during sun-drenched afternoons. The “old town” playground equipment that resembles old buildings will be removed, allowing for more space for movement. 

Traffic Congestion – On July 28, Barstow celebrated the groundbreaking of a second driveway that leads to the middle school. It will be located south of the current one, following the fenceline of the baseball field. Having a second access point off of State Line Road will alleviate congestion at 8 am drop off and 3 pm pick up. The $2.3 million project raised by the Barstow community will include more parking spaces as well. 

Campus Safety: Barstow enhanced its campus safety procedures by purchasing a new two-way radio system and equipping every faculty and staff member with a radio. 

Maintenance – Phase two of the roof replacement was completed and improvements to the HVAC system are underway.

Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space – The IDEA Space which is available to all schools in the metropolitan area, has seen a 152% increase in attendance since opening last year. This year the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) center is offering after-school classes every Tuesday afternoon. Open to grades K-12, the classes include sewing, engineering, coding, drone building, 3-D printing and visual arts. New equipment includes a CNC router to program and design software and new VEX robotics equipment.