Construction teams report rapid progress, tight schedule for three new schools

Don Adams, the district’s expertise supervisor for facilities, gave the board a construction progress report on Sept. 4 covering Hyde Park Middle, Nibley Middle and a new elementary school, saying both roofing and interior work are advancing and that the project teams expect the new elementary and middle openings next August.

Why it matters: opening dates determine when students and staff move into new space and trigger recurring staffing and operating costs that the district must budget for this school year.

Adams walked the board through recent site activity and construction milestones. At Hyde Park Middle he said structural steel work and exterior block installation are largely complete and that ductwork and interior framing were underway. “We’re starting to get that mechanical working,” Adams said, and the presentation included photos of roof‑top HVAC units, framed staircases and classrooms with drywall starting to go up.

On the new elementary site, Adams described excavation and footing work for tilt-up concrete panels and said the contractor had increased manpower to accelerate panel production. He explained the tilt‑panel erection sequence and the metal plate and welding method used to tie panels together for seismic stability. Adams cautioned that weather and supply-chain issues can compress the finish schedule: “The ductwork has been slow. We couldn’t get it from a supplier,” he said, and added that subcontractors had pivoted to alternate suppliers to stay on schedule.

Adams said the elementary and the middle are both slated to open in August 2026 and that the timeline will be tight: “It will be very, very close. We have a team committed to getting it done.” He noted the general contractor’s prior success opening Lewiston Elementary on schedule but warned that punch‑list work often extends for months after an initial opening.

Discussion versus direction versus decision: the presentation was informational. Board members asked questions about finish sequencing and whether interior fit‑out would be complete before students arrive; Adams said some storefront and doors would be delayed until later to avoid damage during equipment moves but that classrooms and core systems would be prioritized.

What’s next: Adams said crews will focus on completing windows, roofing, drywall and HVAC over the coming weeks and that paving and curb work on adjacent roadways will follow once building envelopes are secure. No formal board action was required during the update.

Ending: The board thanked Adams for the update and urged continued schedule monitoring, noting the staffing and budget implications that will follow building occupancy.