Long Beach Unified is preparing for a $400 million overhaul of Poly High, the largest and oldest campus in the district.

The district on May 21 will update the community on construction that is expected to last more than six years, with the first phase set to begin in November with repairs to the school’s HVAC system and construction of interim classroom portables for students while nearby buildings are renovated and constructed.

Unlike a project at Washington Middle School, Poly’s 4,000 students will stay on campus during the work. Washington students are being bused to another campus, Butler Middle School, for three years beginning this fall while their campus is rebuilt.

“It was important to keep Poly’s culture alive and keep students and staff together as much as possible,” said David Miranda, executive director of facilities development and planning for LBUSD.

The work is estimated to cost $400 million and will be funded by the Measure Q bond passed in 2022.

Plans call for major renovations (without demolition) of all the buildings around Poly’s quad, expected to happen in the first phase of work.

The second phase, expected to begin in 2027, includes construction of a new three-story administration building where the cafeteria currently is at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Jackrabbit Lane; two other new school buildings along Jackrabbit Lane; a new drama/choral building and three new class buildings behind where the science building currently sits; and a new state-of-the-art outdoor pool and a new two-story gymnasium with increased capacity as well as a new weight room and locker facilities.

Two parking structures were removed from the scope of work originally presented in 2022, Miranda said.

“I would love to do those down the line,” he said, “but for now we’ve prioritized work on academic and athletic buildings.”

The only amenities on campus that will not be touched as part of the work are the campus auditorium, which was renovated in 2017, and a new all-weather track and field complex finished in 2018.

The same architect that completed the auditorium is overseeing plans for the rest of the campus, with the similar goal of maintaining the historical charm of Poly. The campus originally opened in 1895 as Long Beach High School, two years before the city itself incorporated.

Although several students and staff spoke out at a recent Board of Education meeting about the possible closure of the Poly Academy of Achievers and Learners, known as PAAL, Miranda said that is not in the plans.

“We are working with the architect on concepts that can help us to house every program,” he said. “There are no conversations about closing programs.”

PAAL is an annex of Poly High that helps juniors and seniors earn a high school diploma by receiving more credits during the school year.

The district is updating the community on plans for Poly High at a forum at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, at the Poly High Auditorium, 1600 Atlantic Ave.