Crews painting rooms, installing AC, cleaning before new school year

By MICHELLE HATFIELD
mhatfield@modbee.com

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Bulldozers and construction workers have replaced students and teachers at several schools over the summer months.

While drivers are enjoying the summertime drop in congestion around schools, they've also noticed hulking machinery and hard hats at some campuses.

For example, Somerset Middle School in Modesto is undergoing a $6 million modernization, including a multipurpose room with a cafeteria and stage that can accommodate 1,000 students. Several dilapidated portables are being replaced with permanent classrooms. Both projects should be done by the end of 2008, said John Halverson, Sylvan Union School District superintendent.

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Somerset's funding comes from a $40 million construction bond passed by voters in 2006.

Passers-by also have caught glimpses of Downey High School's major makeover. Downey is one of Modesto's last high schools to get air-conditioning units in most of its classrooms. This summer, workers have been adding AC units to eight classrooms on the 57-year-old campus, said John Liukkonen, Modesto City Schools director of construction.

"July is my crunch time. It's amazing how fast the summer goes by," Liukkonen said, adding he canceled two vacations this summer. The school year started this week for many and will continue through August for everyone else.

Several classrooms on Downey High's west end also are getting modernized with seismic retrofitting, an upgraded fire alarm system, synchronized clocks, new ceilings, and interior and exterior paint. Workers also are replacing tile floors, which are costly to maintain, with polished concrete.

AC upgrades at Davis

Davis High School is getting AC upgrades to 15 classrooms and its cafeteria.

Four Modesto City Schools elementary campuses -- Everett, Fairview, Kirschen and Marshall -- are getting new kindergarten playground equipment.

Johansen High and Beard Elementary schools are receiving fresh coats of paint.

And even the campuses not being treated to major overhauls are getting shined up to sparkle for students, teachers, staff and parents returning for the start of school this month.

"We're not building (because of a drop in student enrollment), but we're sprucing up what we have," said Jim Yardy, head of business services at the Salida Union School District.

Maintenance workers and custodians are taking advantage of the summer break. Many sites are undergoing deep cleaning, carpet shampooing, floor waxing and painting.

Caswell Elementary is getting Ceres' biggest face-lift with the modernization of its multipurpose room, new air-conditioning units, new flooring and new walls, said Joe Kissee, director of maintenance and operations at Ceres schools.

The district's older campuses -- such as Caswell, Sam Vaughn, Walter White and Don Pedro elementary schools -- are getting new carpeting.

"We also work in the winter, but this is the best weather," Kissee said.

Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.