The Beverly Hills City Council, BHUSD Board of Education and El Rodeo School leadership joined together on Aug. 11 for the grand opening of El Rodeo Elementary School. (photo by Tabor Brewster)

More than 2,000 Beverly Hills residents – including families, teachers, administrators, students and local leaders – descended upon the newly renovated El Rodeo Elementary School on Sunday, Aug. 11, to celebrate the school’s grand opening following a five-year construction project. The modernization effort – which included seismic retrofitting and a renovation of school facilities – began in 2019 and was originally scheduled to be completed in 2021. However, the project faced a numerous challenges, namely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was pushed back several times.

“There have been moments along the way where the road seemed endless and that the obstacles in front of us were insurmountable,” Beverly Hills Unified School District Superintendent Michael Bregy said to a crowd in front of the school. “However, we remained in our steadfast commitment along with you, and I’m just overwhelmed this morning to stand here with such admiration for what we’ve achieved. The El Rodeo Elementary School that you see before you today is not just a building. This is a testament to resilience, dedication and a collective effort of everybody involved – everybody that has come today. 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. The completed project – albeit taking a little bit longer than we had anticipated – stands as a beacon of excellence and beauty among any school compared to in the state of California.”

The school first opened in 1927 as El Rodeo de Las Aguas Elementary School – a Spanish phrase for “gathering of the waters” taken from the area’s first indigenous Tongva residents. The school’s original Spanish revival architecture mirrors that of other city landmarks, like the Beverly Hills City Hall, completed five years later. The school underwent structural additions in the 1930s and later in the ‘60s as the city grew, with the latest project being the most significant update since then.

“El Rodeo School has been a cornerstone of our community for generations, and oh if these walls could talk. We would hear about growth, and learning and the beginning of lifelong friendships,” BHUSD Board President Dr. Amanda Stern said. “The new facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment designed to foster collaborative learning and creativity and they were built to ensure the safety and comfort of every child who walks through these doors.”

The project – with a $166 million budget – modernized facilities while maintaining and restoring the architectural elements that make the school unique, including a California Churrigueresque bell tower and a New Deal-funded Hugo Ballin mural titled “Rudimentary Education.”

El Rodeo Principal Sarah Kaber highlighted the symbolic importance of the mural during the opening ceremony.

“It’s a piece of art funded by the New Deal, a time in America when America invested in its people, its future through public works and educational initiatives,” Kaber said. “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. 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.”

All five members of the Beverly Hills City Council were also present at the ceremony to emphasize the coordination between city government and school district.

“The heart of the community is our schools,” Mayor Lester Friedman said. “This beautiful El Rodeo campus is the start of a new chapter.”