With summer vacation in full swing, Turlock Unified School District is taking advantage of empty campuses to carry out a number of much-needed construction projects.
According to Director of Maintenance Operations Scott Richardson, the Turlock High School modernization project is progressing smoothly, with the Performing Arts building and four adjacent classrooms scheduled for completion before the 2015-16 academic year.
“This is very exciting for the drama, band, choir and dance programs at Turlock High School,” said Richardson.
Also included in the remodel is the Girls Gymnasium, which is once again under construction having received all of the necessary approvals from the Division of State Architect.
Richardson reported that there is not a completion date for the facility as of yet. However, he revealed that the THS girls’ physical education programs will be able to re-occupy the locker room at the onset of the 2015-16 academic year.
Additionally, playgrounds, sidewalks and driveways throughout the district are expected to look a little smoother before students return in August, thanks to the Asphalt Replacement Project.
Areas that will receive an asphalt makeover are the playground at Brown Elementary School, the driveway and drop off between Hawkeye Avenue and North Avenue at Crowell Elementary School, the sidewalk and driveway on Linwood Avenue at Cunningham Elementary School, and Turlock High School Campus Way between Berkeley Avenue and Wallace Street.
The TUSD Board of Trustees began to solicit bids for the Asphalt Replacement Project in April and in June they voted to award the bid and authorize entering into an agreement with Machado & Sons Construction.
“This is a local, Turlock grown company that has worked with TUSD for the past 20 years on small jobs,” said Richardson in June. “This is our first large-scale project with them and we have no reason to believe that they can’t complete the task.”
With a base bid at $815,065, Brown Elementary is expected to cost $359,275, Crowell Elementary is expected to cost $262,815, Cunningham Elementary is expected to cost $72,545 and THS is expected to cost $120,430.
The district has also completed construction of the new Vehicle Maintenance Facility located at the bus yard. Richardson reported that construction of the building began last fall under Harris Builders Inc. in Hilmar.
Over the next few weeks, bus mechanics will move into the new shop and be ready to service the district’s fleet in time for the start of the 2015-16 academic year.
