West Salem construction update: elementary about 38% complete; high‑school interior work planned May 28–Aug. 1

District staff gave the board a photo-driven update on referendum-funded construction at the elementary and high school campuses, noting visible progress and a series of near‑term sequencing decisions.

The presenter said the elementary project is "approximately 38% completed," describing work from precast-wall caulking and roofing to enclosure of openings that will allow interior crews to begin finish work. The district plans a spring blitz at the elementary school and then a summer blitz at the high school.

At the high school campus staff described excavation and replacement of organic soils with sand sourced from the Trempealeau area to provide suitable building pads, construction of a retaining wall near the north end zone, relocation of pole-vault and triple-jump pits to accommodate the addition, and installation of storm drainage that will tie to a retention pond between the middle and high schools. Staff said the project team planned to begin all interior high‑school work on May 28—the first day after school—and aim to complete interior scope before a targeted August 1 deadline, with large sections of the building shut off during construction.

A board member asked whether track areas were disturbed and whether black dirt might be sold; staff replied the track was not disturbed and that a contractor called Dirt Monkey's is handling the exchange/management of removed black dirt versus imported fill.

Board members and staff agreed to continue providing periodic photo updates; staff offered to produce another update near the end of the school year and to circulate monthly progress notes if desired.