Kickoff to Construction

Canutillo Community,

I am thrilled to invite the entire Canutillo ISD community to join us this Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the site of the upcoming Canutillo Middle School for our Kickoff to Construction event. This will be a special celebration marking the 10th and final groundbreaking ceremony for the Canutillo Bond, and it will officially launch the relocation and reconstruction of Canutillo Middle School, one of the four major construction projects funded by this historic bond.

Over the past two months, we have visited every campus in our district to begin their respective bond projects. At each ceremony, we highlighted how these investments will modernize our schools and impact the students they serve. Canutillo Middle School will be no exception. This new campus represents a major step forward in providing our students with innovative learning environments, modernized classrooms, and state-of-the-art facilities designed to support academic excellence and student success.

The morning will begin with the traditional shovel ceremony, a symbolic moment that represents the hard work, dedication and community support behind every project. Following the ceremony, we invite all students, families, teachers, staff and community members to join us for a fall festival celebrating our shared history and the future of education in Canutillo ISD. The event will take place at 6100 Upper Valley Road.

The festival will feature a fun tribute to the farms of the Upper Valley, including a petting zoo and numerous nods to Canutillo’s agricultural roots. We will also have carnival games, face painting, a jumping balloon and hands-on science experiments designed to engage the entire family. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate the district’s accomplishments, and enjoy a day full of entertainment, learning and family fun.

As we complete this final groundbreaking ceremony, I want to take a moment to recognize several people whose leadership and hard work have made this bond program a success. First, I want to thank our Board of Trustees and Superintendent Emeritus Dr. Pedro Galaviz. Without their vision and guidance, none of this would have been possible. Their dedication to the students of Canutillo ISD has been the foundation of this transformative program.

I also want to acknowledge our bond management company, Procedeo, along with the architects and general contractors who have worked closely with us to bring these projects to life. Their expertise, creativity and collaboration have ensured that each project meets the needs of our students and our community.

Additionally, I am grateful to the Facilities and Maintenance staff, our transportation staff led by Dr. Oscar Rico, and the Fine Arts staff led by Andres Rodriguez for their unwavering support in making each ceremony seamless and meaningful. Their work behind the scenes ensured that every detail, from logistics to entertainment, contributed to the success of these events. Of course, I want to thank each principal and their campus staffs for their part in making these events possible. 

Additionally, I want to thank our Public Information Office — Laura Lupia, Christina Rodriguez and Gustavo Reveles — for their tireless efforts in planning and executing world-class ceremonies. Because of their dedication, each groundbreaking has been a beautiful, celebratory and memorable event for our students, staff and community.

Lastly, I would be remiss not to thank the voters in the District for placing their trust in the CISD and allowing us the opportunity to update and modernize our campuses. We can’t wait to fulfill our promise to you. 

This Saturday is more than just a celebration of construction. It is a celebration of what makes Canutillo ISD special: our students, families, staff and community coming together to support one another and invest in the future. I look forward to seeing you there to celebrate the start of a new chapter for Canutillo Middle School and the district as a whole.

Dr. Jesica Arellano
Interim Superintendent
Canutillo Independent School District