Atascadero Unified School District staff told trustees the Atascadero High School parking and site-improvement project remains underway but is likely to miss an October 31 finish date after civil-grade conflicts that paused earthwork.

"We picked October 31 as our initial date. Everyone is hustling to make that happen. I think this setback may push us back two weeks. So mid-November is where we're at now," Brent Lloyd, the district’s director of support services, told the board.

Lloyd described the biggest components of the work: reconfiguring stadium, gym and junior parking; constructing terraces and retaining walls on a hillside to add parking; installing irrigation, light standards and storm drains; widening the San Andres entrance to accommodate a vehicular key‑card gate; and relocating EV-ready electrical infrastructure to the campus interior to comply with current California building-code requirements.

"Really, what makes any parking lot project come together is the pavement. Unfortunately, the pavement is the very last piece that goes in," Lloyd said. He showed trustees photos of poured islands, curbs, light standards and completed utilities, noting that grading and one elevation conflict required the civil engineer to recalibrate fixed points before paving could proceed.

Parents asked whether the new San Andres gate will include a separate pedestrian gate because many students use that path. Lloyd told the board a pedestrian gate is not included in the current contract: "We have a drive gate with this particular project. There is a path that's there for pedestrians, and we'd be able to attend to that once the project's finished." He said campus buildings and areas previously used by student groups remain accessible during construction when needed.

Trustees were shown images of retaining walls and new sidewalk/ADA ramp work; Lloyd said those ramps require tight tolerances and careful civil work. He also said the project team built EV-ready infrastructure behind the campus fence so the district would not disrupt active parking or summer programs.

The presentation included a short timeline and a statement that while the delay may be roughly two weeks, the district will return with another update once the civil elevations are resolved.