After 12 years, Poly is set to switch the Head of School house from Catalina Avenue to a neighboring property on Arden Road once ongoing renovations are complete. The Head of School house is provided to Poly’s Head of School for the duration of their tenure.
“The school’s and the board of trustees’ intention is to provide adjacent housing to the Head of School, at no ultimate cost to the Head of School, so that the Head of School can fully participate and be present in the multitude of school activities,” stated Chief Financial Officer Keith Huyssoon.
The new house, which is about 100 years old, used to be owned by the aunt and uncle of a Poly alum. Poly acquired the property for $4 million in January of 2022, but renovations were delayed until a year and a half ago while the school got the necessary permitting. Most of the renovations are needed to bring the house up to code with the City of Pasadena.
“We had to upgrade all of the electricity and all of the plumbing because it’s an old style,” explained Head of School John Bracker. “It was in really bad shape internally. It had not been well taken care of.”
Other renovations, such as tearing down a wall to expand the kitchen and making a bathroom handicap-accessible, allow the house to host bigger school functions. The new property will have a larger capacity to host events like new parent parties, trustee dinners and fundraising events, which have historically been held at the Head of School house. Bracker also hopes to host the kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade parent parties, which are currently held on campus, at his new residence.
“The cost of the Arden house renovation is being funded by a combination of donations and Poly’s capital improvement budget,” said Huyssoon.
The Head of School house is one of eight residential properties that Poly owns, which have been purchased over time as the properties have become available. The properties, which are on Dale St, Cornell Rd, Catalina Ave and Arden Rd, are rented to Poly faculty, staff and families at market rate. If the school doesn’t find interested renters in the community, the property is put on the market for the general public.
“It’s a tough time to find housing, so for us if it can be available for someone to be able to live close by then that works,” said Bracker, adding, “It’s always good to be your own neighbor. Sometimes [non-Poly] neighbors are concerned about traffic or noise.”
“These rental homes are self-sustaining from an economic standpoint, meaning the rents cover property taxes, insurance, routine maintenance and longer-term upkeep,” said Huyssoon, “The rents also help repay Poly, so to speak, for the original acquisition cost.”
Poly is looking to finish renovations and relocate the Head of School family sometime before 2027.
