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Field house progresses; board hears multi‑school referendum construction plan and savings reallocation
Summary
District staff and contractors updated the board on phase‑one referendum projects including the Nathan Hale field house (in active construction), roofing work, and plans to use savings for elevator and bathroom improvements at Pershing and other schools.
District staff and construction partners updated the West Allis‑West Milwaukee School Board on Sept. 22 about referendum‑funded construction projects and plans for the 2026 work season, highlighting quick progress at Nathan Hale’s field house and potential reallocation of savings to elevators and bathroom renovations.
Superintendent Dr. Robinson opened the session by praising construction lead Bill Smith and the project team for rapid progress on the field house. Presenters showed a time‑lapse and outlined completed items (Nathan Hale gym floor replacement, several roofing projects) and projects in progress (field house demolition, remediation of mercury‑contaminated flooring, concrete work, HVAC rough‑ins).
District staff said the contractor removed the old gym floor and poured new concrete for the wood‑floor inset, remediated mercury in the old flooring, and planned finish work — drywall, paint and new flooring installation — leading to a projected late‑November/December substantial completion for the field house. The district expects a major community event around the first large gym event, contingent on occupancy approval; administrators are targeting a November basketball event as the first full use.
Staff reported some roofing projects came in under budget; remaining savings at Pershing (where roofing had been partly completed pre‑referendum) are being evaluated to fund an elevator at Pershing. The district said it is in the design and engineering phase for the elevator and that an elevator location has been tentatively identified.
Other 2026 projects discussed included: bathroom remodels and entrance/locker‑room improvements at Central; a targeted gym HVAC and ceiling replacement at Doty (steam leak remediation, rooftop units planned with asbestos remediation required during work); boiler and chiller replacement at West Milwaukee (long equipment lead times expected); and pool assessments at multiple schools, with the West Milwaukee pool singled out as likely impractical to bring up to current code without extensive reconstruction.
On procurement and market conditions, CG Schmidt’s project executive said tariffs have not produced a major sustained cost spike across projects, though lead times for certain items (lockers, electrical gear, HVAC units) have fluctuated and are monitored. The team emphasized completing grouped projects at each school in one mobilization to limit repeated disruptions and construction mobilization costs.
Ending: The board was invited to a site tour of the field house on Oct. 6 and 7; district staff said they will return with another update this winter as designs for 2026 projects are finalized and bid packages are prepared.
