Members of the Beverly Hills community blanketed El Rodeo Elementary School in a sea of red as they flooded through the newly renovated campus on Aug. 11. Thousands of students, alumni and faculty sported the school’s signature color to celebrate its grand reopening after a five-year renovation project that updated many of the school’s facilities but also paid homage to its long history. The event, which welcomed families to tour the school before classes began on Aug. 12, included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board of Education, City Council and members of El Rodeo’s faculty and staff.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy explained that the school’s history plays an important role in educating the next generation of Beverly Hills. This event brought together parents and families who are brand new to the El Rodeo community and alumni from as far back as the class of 1950. “This is a place, when you look around, this is where history and modern times meet—where every brick, every beam, every window tells a story of perseverance and hope,” said Bregy.
The grand reopening was also a chance for past students to reminisce on memories they made during their elementary years and to wish new students well as they embark on their own journeys. BHUSD Board of Education President Dr. Amanda Stern spoke about the unique opportunity these students have to witness a part of history on their own campus. “El Rodeo School has been a cornerstone of our community for generations, and oh, if these walls could talk,” she said. “We would hear about growth and learning, and the beginning of lifelong friendships. Today, as we unveil the newly renovated campus, we are not just opening doors to a building, but to endless possibilities for our students,” she said.
Throughout the day, the campus was packed with visitors from all areas of the Beverly Hills community, including the fire and police departments, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in support of BHUSD. Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman explained in his speech how important this support is for the students. “What we as a council, along with the school board are showing, is that we are one community,” he said. “And that’s what’s really important.” He continued to thank the fire and police departments for their service within the BHUSD community. “One thing that we always know is that the heart of the community is our schools,” said Friedman.
After the renovation project that started in 2019, the school reflects both the past and the future of Beverly Hills through historical pieces of the architecture and artwork and through newly renovated science and technology labs. “This day has been long awaited and it’s been anticipated by so many of us that have appeared today,” said Bregy. “Back in the early stages of the year in 2019, the task before us was monumental and transformative. We were faced at the time with the daunting change of closing a cherished institution for two to three years to strengthen and to put life into a historically significant school—to a school that was a cherished cornerstone of our community.”
Photo by Amanda Coscarelli
Though it was originally proposed as a three-year project, BHUSD had to halt construction during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also took a significant amount of time to work around preexisting architecture and to preserve aspects of the building’s history, but this was a top priority for the project, as Stern explained. “We cut this ribbon today as a culmination of years of hard work and unwavering commitment to the future of our students and community,” she said. “This includes every detail from the restored mural to the new flagpole that went in just last week.”
Outside, children played on the renovated playground while their parents scanned several booths set up for the event. These included food and drink vendors as well as a farmer’s market that provided local produce. Across the playground, parents could purchase El Rodeo shirts, sweatshirts and other gear.
As families toured the inside of the school, they admired the historical mural that Stern referred to in her speech. The artwork was funded by the New Deal in the early 20th century and was originally started by artist Hugo Ballin; however, it was left unfinished after the Public Works of Art project was terminated. It was later completed in 1934 with the help of Robert Woolsey, Charles Jorgenson and Don Smith. “This mural is not just a decoration; it is a tribute to the resilience and spirit of our country during a pivotal time in history,” said El Rodeo’s Principal, Sarah Kaber. “This mural reminds us that we are connected to a legacy of perseverance, innovation and community. And as our students walk these halls, they will not only be learning about the past, but also contributing to the future, poised to be part of the next chapter of American history.”
