West Salem officials say elementary nearly finished, high‑school additions about halfway done

District staff reported steady progress on the school construction projects, saying the new elementary building is roughly 71% complete and work on the high‑school additions is about 50% complete.

"As we look at the elementary school, we're sitting at about 71% complete," said the presenter (speaker 3), who walked the board through interior and exterior photos and a list of remaining items. Staff said they have received an upgrade to a higher-grade maple gym floor at no additional cost and that drywall, flooring and door hardware remain on the punch list.

Officials said they are beginning to plan a ribbon‑cutting and are arranging temporary fencing and diagrams to keep spectators away from active construction zones during upcoming events, including early football games. Staff noted they will post clear walking routes and use the hydro center parking lot for staff and visitor parking during events.

The presenter described specific building progress: drywall up in classrooms, gym floor installation underway, and exterior work such as sidewalks and metal panels moving forward. He also noted recent fixes to electrical work and restored air‑conditioning in parts of the complex.

No final completion date was given in the transcript; staff said they will return with a fuller update at an August meeting to review construction expense and insurance details.

Provenance: The construction update was introduced and described across the meeting packet and slideshow images; the board discussed ribbon‑cutting timing and safety measures in subsequent exchanges.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the meeting record as Presenter (speaker 3).