District reports progress on Waiheke school, roofing, food science building and other capital projects

District staff and a contractor updated the Elko County School Capital Projects Oversight Committee on several active projects during the Sept. 1 meeting.

Matt Stalky, a project representative, described progress at the Waiheke Mine School site: “So we dirt work is kind of, moving forward. Most of that's kind of done. We're doing a lot of, footings and concrete pouring right now. There's concrete batch plan out there, which is really helping costs and getting really good concrete besides trucking it in from Elko or Mountain Home,” he said. The committee was told the Waiheke project’s budget is approximately $64.5 million from the state.

Committee members also heard that the Old Central roofing project is complete and that the food science building still has punch list items to finish. A ribbon-cutting for the food science building was discussed; speakers referenced several possible dates in early September (Sept. 4, Sept. 5 and Sept. 10 were each mentioned), and committee members said the date was not finalized. The grammar office relocation is “moving forward,” and school safety projects are also progressing.

Committee members praised contractor performance on several projects, noting a contractor was “probably about 2 weeks ahead of schedule” on one item. The committee accepted the consolidated update report by motion and voice vote. Members asked staff to continue providing project updates at future oversight meetings and to coordinate scheduling so oversight meetings do not conflict with school board meetings.