Elkhart district says career‑center addition, high‑school fitness space and middle‑school renovations nearing completion
Summary
District construction manager reported the Elkhart Area Career Center addition will be substantially complete Dec. 4 with turnover Dec. 31; the high‑school fitness/strength facility is on track for Dec. 17 substantial completion; middle‑school restroom and HVAC phases continue with some HVAC units delayed to February.
Tony Giannesi (presented as Mr. Giannesi) gave a multi‑site construction update at the Nov. 25 Elkhart Community Schools board meeting, detailing progress and near‑term milestones across career‑center, annex and school projects. He said the Elkhart Area Career Center addition would undergo a punch list walk‑through Dec. 4, is scheduled to turn over to the district Dec. 31 and be occupied for instruction Jan. 5. The addition will add four classrooms, small‑group instructional space and a large training room designed for the criminal justice program.
Giannesi said diesel‑tech and construction‑trades work at the annex has proceeded with diesel‑tech already completed and the construction‑trades addition set for a Dec. 4 punch list and Jan. 5 occupancy. On the high school site, the health and strength facility (more than 10,000 square feet of fitness area plus classroom and training spaces) is two weeks behind other projects with a substantial‑completion walkthrough scheduled for Dec. 17 and equipment moves beginning Dec. 18.
He described middle‑school renovation phases (classroom conversions and restroom/HVAC work) and said Northside would be contractor‑complete by Dec. 8 while Westside restroom work is scheduled to finish around Feb. 9. Giannesi noted HVAC units were delayed in manufacturing and may not arrive until about February; temporary portable units will remain in use until permanent systems are installed.
The presentation included photos and renderings, and board members thanked maintenance and construction staff for work done both in‑house and with contractors. No formal motions or funding decisions were taken during the presentation; several program openings and occupancy dates were listed as milestones for winter recess and the start of the new semester.
