Despite the rain, construction at San Benito High School is
moving along and the expansion is still set to be open to students
this fall.
The rain has added two months to the completion date, but the
delay will add no additional cost to the district, according to
Steve DeLay, director of finance and operations.
Despite the rain, construction at San Benito High School is moving along and the expansion is still set to be open to students this fall.
The rain has added two months to the completion date, but the delay will add no additional cost to the district, according to Steve DeLay, director of finance and operations.
“These have all been weather delays,” he said.
The expansion, located west of SBHS on Nash Road, is in Phase I. Began in October, the first phase includes the construction of 24 classrooms and four labs to hold 800 students. The buildings are all up and have windows, and the heat and lights are on in the classrooms.
During the damp period, construction workers are focusing on the inside of the classrooms – installing carpet, vinyl and cabinetry, painting walls and setting up electricity.
Laying down concrete, landscaping and paving the parking lot are what’s left to do outside, DeLay said. The parking lot will be at the west end of the project next to Nash.
The project is waiting on word from the Regional Water Quality Control Board on Friday to see if construction of a sewer hook-up can go ahead despite a moratorium on new sewer projects in Hollister.
“The staff report will be for approval of the waiver,” DeLay said about the meeting. “The sewer will be for bathrooms and sinks.”
Phase II consists of an administration building, with bids for construction going out in the near future, he said.
The cost for Phase I was estimated at $7.9 million, but may come in closer to $7.2 million. The cost for the administration building construction is estimated at $2 million.
Because of the change in direction from a freshman campus to just a campus expansion, administrators and school staff are looking at ways to use the construction’s $16 million, half of which is matching funds from the state.
Superintendent Jean Burns Slater is forming two committees to address the new focus.
First, the Committee to Explore the Use of the Site Expansion, is composed of SBHS’ division chairs and classified employee managers.
Members will “give input and ideas,” Slater said. They will meet for the first time Feb. 11.
Second is the Committee to Explore New Construction Projects. Originally, the construction plans called for a library/media center and gym/multipurpose room since the expansion was for a freshman campus and would support itself, DeLay said.
This committee is open to the public and will meet in the spring, Slater said.
The district must use the $16 million within four years on new construction projects or risk losing the state’s $8 million contribution. Since bids are coming in lower than expected, there may be more money to spend on new projects – which don’t necessarily have to be connected to the expansion.
The idea of a freshman campus surfaced in 1998, but many things have changed since then, Slater said. Building growth has slowed, slowing enrollment at SBHS.
The SBHS campus is situated on 42.5 acres with 121 rooms for student use and carries an insured value of $31 million, according to the district. The expansion site is 75 acres with 44 useable acres. A total of 32,700 square feet are under construction for 24 classrooms and four science laboratories.
For more information on the committees, call Slater at 637-5831, ext. 134.
