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Construction phasing forces temporary relocations; board hears safety and storage concerns
Summary
District administrators told the board the next construction phases will displace roughly 18 instructional spaces while school is in session, and directors raised safety concerns about wrestling mats placed on the high‑school stage.
District administrators updated the board on construction phasing and temporary relocations and responded to board concerns about storage, schedule and safety at the March 11 meeting.
Dr. Reist, the district superintendent, and district facilities staff described an accelerated phase that will move part of the building earlier than originally planned to align work with in‑service days. Administrators said roughly 18 instructional spaces will be affected while classes continue and that the next summer phase will be the single most disruptive span because it removes large shared spaces — including the media center — from available temporary storage and workspace. The administrators said the affected summer phase will not turn spaces back over to the district until August.
Administrators said one classroom on the corner of the Forties and Fifties halls and an adjacent room must be included in the upcoming work because a continuous curtain wall ties them to construction in the adjoining art room; that increases the count of impacted spaces above earlier estimates. The administration also said that using small leased sea‑container storage during prior work created damage to some stored items because containers are not climate controlled, and that option was therefore discounted for fragile classroom materials or art supplies.
Board members expressed objections to how storage needs were handled and to placing wrestling mats on the high‑school stage. Director Blau asked whether the new gym could be used; administrators said the new gym floor and HVAC work will not be ready until mid‑June, so it cannot be used now. Facilities staff said the stage placement of wrestling mats was suggested by the coach as a practicable space during the off‑season, but several directors called it unsafe because of a four‑foot drop at one end and the lack of wall padding.
Responding to safety concerns, administrators said they considered elementary facilities and other spaces but found scheduling conflicts and insufficient mat footprint in alternative locations. They also said the coach recommended the stage location for the current roster and that elementary use of mats will be scheduled in different spaces when appropriate. The administration told the board it considered a range of storage alternatives but recommended against sea containers for sensitive materials after prior experience with humidity and rust on some furnishings.
No formal board action was taken on the construction schedule, storage approach or temporary use of the stage. Directors urged administration to prioritize student safety, to pursue storage options that preserve district property, and to return with updates if alternate arrangements are made.
Administrators said the construction contractor and project team (including Beers and Hoffman) continue to coordinate phasing and that staff will provide more detailed logistics and timelines to the board in future reports.
