In a momentous event held last Friday (Sept. 20), the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) proudly unveiled Phase 2 of its much-anticipated Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art educational hub designed to spark creativity, collaboration, and technological advancement among students.
Attended by elected officials, educators, district staff, and community members, the ribbon-cutting event highlighted MUSD’s commitment to providing a forward-thinking educational environment that meets the needs of 21st-century learners.
“The Innovation Campus has the name Innovation in it. Why? It’s important because innovation is about how we build places like this to support creativity and learning experiences that are co-developed by both educators and the learners,” said MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan to the crowd in an opening speech.
The Innovation Campus is a spacious, modern environment that houses the Adult Education Center, Calaveras Hills High School, the Milpitas High School Extension, and the district offices.
The 100,000-square foot center has been funded by the 2018 bond Measure AA and California grants, and has cost over $90 million so far.
Last month, on August 15, a group of 64 high school freshmen and sophomores made history, becoming the very first Milpitas High School Extension students to start classes on the Innovation Campus.
Currently, the MHS Extension has the capacity for 475 students, and district officials are hoping that as more families discover the opportunity, there will be more high school students coming onto the campus.
Students who attend the MHS Extension at the Innovation Campus will not only be able to earn college credits during the school day, but they will also be able to take advantage of the Engineering & Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Pathways available.
“The MUSD Innovation Campus will provide the alpha generation of Milpitas High School students with a smaller campus-size setting, cutting edge academic experiences, resources, and hands-on learning opportunities in preparation for the global workforce,” MUSD Board Trustee Chris Norwood shared with The Beat. “It will feature personalized learning, career pathway planning, leadership, community building, and industry connections.”
Blach Construction (Blach) and Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) teams worked relentlessly over the last couple of years to get Phase One and Phase Two of the Innovation Campus completed.
“It is extremely gratifying to have completed two phases of such a significant, community-enhancing project in the span of two years,” said Brad Fannin, project executive at Blach, in a release. “The dedication and collaboration of our combined project teams were instrumental in overcoming supply chain bottlenecks and a very wet winter. Overall, our joint efforts have resulted in state-of-the-art facilities that MUSD and the Milpitas community will benefit from for years to come.”
Assemblymember Alex Lee was present at the ribbon-cutting and presented the district with a commendation for the occasion. He spoke of how he was a proud product of Milpitas schools, having graduated from Milpitas High 11 years ago.
“The future of the country starts in California. But I think the future of California starts right here in Milpitas,” said Assemblymember Lee to the crowd.
He added: “As we celebrate so many things that are achievements, the things that scare us today – AI, blockchain, all these things that bewilder and scare us – will tomorrow be your children’s most boring subjects they’ve learned in school. Because this is what we’re doing here in Milpitas. We’re innovating. And I’m really glad that the voters of Milpitas have put down their hard-earned money to make sure this is a vision in reality.”
With the completion of Phase 2 – which included the construction of two buildings for Cal Hills High School and the modernization of a building for Career Technical Education – MUSD is poised to expand its educational offerings even further. Plans for the next phase include a workforce development center, an early childhood research center, and a board of education meeting room.
As the district moves forward, it remains committed to cultivating an innovative spirit that empowers students to explore, create, and excel. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Innovation Center’s Phase 2 marks not just a new beginning for the facility, but a bright future for education in Milpitas.
