The district has branded this summer and school year as the “busiest summer yet,” with a focus on revamping almost every school in the district.

Out of all the elementary schools in the Palo Alto Unified School District being renovated, Hoover Elementary’s remodeling, from the ground-up, has been the most extreme.

District Director of Facilities and Construction, Eric Holm said that a full remodeling of Hoover was necessary to replace the old campus for a better functioning school for students and teachers.

“[Replacements include] complete utility infrastructure replacement … air conditioning, and additional space needs,” Holm said.

Construction at Hoover was delayed due to a fire at Cubberley Community Center. The campus is now expected to reopen in December of 2025 according to Holm. One major change slated to happen on Hoover’s campus is the addition of multiple story buildings, providing maximum space for classrooms. Palo Verde Elementary School was previously one of the schools in the district that underwent construction, and  classes were moved temporarily to Cubberley.

Jennifer Aza Allan,  a 5th grade teacher at Palo Verde, previously taught in a portable before the renovations, but is now in a permanent building.

“I was used to the space, but it really did feel heavy and dark,” Aza Allan said. “So coming into a new spot … it [the new classroom] felt nice and welcoming.”

Recently, Palo Alto High School has undergone renovations of the Tower Building, finishing the project in spring 2024, but no new projects are planned for Paly in the near future.

“We are pretty much done until another bond comes out, which if there would be one it is likely a few years away,” Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said.