New Loretta Zumbro Elementary nears completion; permanent traffic signal delayed, temporary signal planned

The board received a construction update from CORE Construction and the district on June 14 for the new Loretta Zumbro Elementary School campus. Whitney Bunn, CORE project director, said the project is about 95% complete, with the site reportedly approaching $25 million in cost-complete-to-date numbers provided in the update. Bunn told the board most concrete work was finished and the playground on the northwest corner of the site is complete; the site has permanent power from Arizona Public Service and life-safety inspections (including final fire inspections with the state fire marshal) were passed the morning of the update.

Bunn said roofing, HVAC units, interior finishes and landscaping are in the final stages and that furniture delivery was underway and continuing through the next week, with vendors hired by the district moving furniture into the buildings. CORE said schedule completion was near and that the buildings would be ready for occupancy once Maricopa County issues a certificate of occupancy (CO). In the presentation staff said Maricopa County planned to issue COs the following Monday (county date not stated in published minutes but referenced in the oral briefing); CORE said movers and vendors were staging deliveries and final punch-list items were being completed.

Board members asked about traffic control at the intersection where the new school connects to Lower Buckeye Road. CORE reported the city of Goodyear required a permanent traffic signal at the intersection; lead times for materials mean the permanent signal was not expected before school opening. As a contingency, CORE said the district had procured a temporary traffic signal approved by the city and scheduled for installation on July 25. CORE said the underground infrastructure for the permanent signal is in place and the permanent fixtures are expected to arrive and be installed in the October-November timeframe, at which point an in-place switchover will make the permanent signal active. Board members asked whether the school should expect to open on schedule; CORE said, based on inspections and pending CO issuance, the campus was on track for occupancy and staff reported no outstanding issues likely to delay opening.

Why it matters: The new campus will relieve enrollment pressures and provide new instructional space. The timing of the traffic-signal installation and issuance of certificates of occupancy are critical for the start-of-school safety and logistics plan.

What92s next: CORE and district staff will continue final punch-list work and coordinate with Maricopa County and the city of Goodyear to finalize CO issuance and to install temporary and eventually permanent traffic signals. Furniture moves and final vendor work will continue through the final weeks before occupancy.