Two Modesto schools to share new cafeteria-multipurpose facility funded by Measure X
Modesto City Schools broke ground Tuesday on a shared school facility, funded by Measure X, that is part cafeteria and part multipurpose room. Robertson Road and Harriet Kirschen elementary schools will be the first in the district to have a shared facility.
Construction will begin this summer and be completed in summer 2027.
“Neighborhoods in west Modesto deserve, and have long waited for these facilities upgrades,” Superintendent Vanessa Buitrago said in a press release. “Better campus environments do a better job of welcoming students and creating positive climates that encourage school attendance and learning.”
Some MCS elementary schools received new cafeterias that double as multipurpose rooms with funding from Measures D and E. The sites that couldn’t be financed by Measures D and E are being funded through Measure X.
The 9,360-square-foot shared facility will have a large indoor space specifically for assemblies, performances, music instruction and campus events, with seating for more than 800 students. The indoor dining space will seat 400 students, while the outdoor dining area can accommodate an additional 120 students.
“Most people see it as a cafeteria or a place for our students to go have a nutritious breakfast, nutritious lunches, but it’s more than that,” Associate Superintendent Tim Zearley said. “Ours are really community-centered. It’s for schoolwide assemblies, there’s a stage for performances … it’s just an opportunity for large-scale events, whether it is for parents or students.”
Kirschen Principal Kyrsten Trinkler said the shared facility will allow the two schools to host community events together. She added that Kirschen’s current cafeteria is too small to host schoolwide events at the same capacity.
“Having a space where all of our students can be together at one time is a huge benefit,” Trinkler said.
According to a press release, the upgrade will include a “modern serving kitchen with upgraded meal service areas,” new student drop-off and pickup lanes, eight new parking spaces and other safety and traffic-flow improvements.
“It’s an opportunity for collaboration and an opportunity for both of our schools to pool our resources to better serve students and staff,” Principal Guillermo Lopez Romo of Robertson Road Elementary said.
