MSJ announces $50–55 million campus reconstruction plans

By Centerspread Editor Jessica Cao, Sports Editor Veer Mahajan, & Staff Writer Matthew Zhang

Nine years after the installation of MSJ’s $8.1 million swimming pool,  FUSD requested plans for a major reconstruction project at MSJ this past June, including the construction of a new 70,000-square-foot, two-story administration and classroom building with $50-55 million in investment. The project also involves demolishing, replacing, and renovating buildings throughout the school.

MSJ’s campus has undergone several expansions and renovations over time. Originally built for about 1,600 to 1,800 students, the school has been gradually adding new facilities — including the A-wing and the second story of the P-wing — throughout the years. The upcoming renovations will focus mainly on modernizing the M and N-wings of the campus. The aging of campus facilities have resulted in some infrastructural issues around the school. “These buildings are from the 1960s. They are really old, and they need renovation for sure,” Mathematics Teacher Umit Sahin said.

The reconstruction project is receiving funding through Measure M, a $919 million general obligation school bond. Fremont voters approved the measure by 64.3% on Nov. 5, 2024, and it will eventually affect nearly every part of the campus. The first major phase will begin in the spring of 2027 with renovations to the dirt track and the rest of the athletic field, which have often been criticized by students. “The dust gets kicked around, it gets into people’s eyes, people breathe it in, and there is no grip,” Freshman William Lim said. Unlike the current dirt-and-grass track, students can look forward to the new track featuring a level turf field, a modern synthetic-rubber track, and fencing. Construction will be completed by the start of the 2028-29 school year, although administrators caution that construction timelines are often difficult to predict and could be extended further. The athletic construction will also affect the staff and student parking lot, which construction crews will use as a staging and equipment area. 

While MSJ will remain an open-campus school, administrators are considering adding fencing around open areas on campus to improve security and protect the school from vandalism and theft. The intent is not to completely close the campus, but to make it more difficult for unauthorized people to enter while preserving students’ ability to leave campus during lunch. “Our campus is very open. It’s more aesthetically pleasing … but [currently] it’s not the safest because people could just walk onto campus whenever they want,” Principal Amy Perez said.

The existing N-wing will be demolished in summer 2027 after classes currently in the wing are gradually relocated. The district has many plans so far, including the aforementioned $50-55 million L-shaped building to consolidate much of the school’s academic and administrative function. “Almost all of the classes will be there, including all the science labs, special education, our wellness center, and our registrar’s office. Everything’s [going to] be pretty much in one location,” Perez said. The district has still been working with the project’s architect primarily on the building’s logistics, determining how many classrooms are needed, what each space will be used for, and where all offices and bathrooms will be located.

For a campus that has remained recognizable for generations of students, the next few years mark the beginning of a newer MSJ — one that retains its bell tower, pavers and other familiar landmarks while upgrading much of the infrastructure surrounding them. Still, students can rest assured that construction is not expected to disrupt their education. “We’re going to make it work. As far as school goes, it’s not going to affect [students]. [They] are still going to have six classes. The bell schedule is still going to be the same. Nothing’s going to change [in terms of students] getting their education,” Assistant Principal Jeana Nightengale said.