West Salem board hears construction progress; ribbon cutting set for Aug. 26

The West Salem School District on Monday updated the board on progress for its elementary and high school construction projects and set a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Aug. 26 to coincide with an elementary back-to-school event. District staff said the primary learning spaces will be ready for students when school begins Aug. 31, while some exterior and specialty work will continue.

District staff said interior finish work remains at the elementary site — ceiling tiles, door hardware, some flooring and bathroom accessories — but that such items are mostly cosmetic compared with the classrooms that students will occupy. "We're right on schedule," Ryan (speaker 4) said, reporting the elementary work is nearing completion and showing photos of gym paint, finished flooring and updated classroom spaces. He told the board the ribbon cutting will "kick off the back to school bash" on Aug. 26.

At the high school, the district described the first-floor addition as roughly 60% complete, with ductwork, ventilation, framing and masonry moving forward. The board was told that trades spaces, a new metals lab and special education classrooms are being finished so that learning spaces will be available on Aug. 31; the greenhouse footings and excavation were described as ongoing and were estimated to finish in mid-September.

The board did not take formal action on construction outside of acknowledging timelines and public events. District staff said they will continue to report progress to the board and post project photos to the district website.