Trustees receive report on summer renovations

The Churchill County School District Board of Trustees received a report on the status of summer construction jobs at each school at their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday.

All the schools except for Northside Early Learning Center received their certificates of occupancy on Thursday, while Northside received its OK on Friday.

Prior to the final board meeting of August, trustees toured the construction sites to view the completed work.

Board members learned the custodial and maintenance staffs began moving furniture and equipment into the schools earlier in the week, and faculty accessed each site one week ago.

Each facility received some type of reconstruction as provided by the 2008 Construction Bond program.

“I like to thank the teachers, Dr. (Sandra) Sheldon (superintendent of schools) and the board for their patience,” said Brian Byrd, director of maintenance.

He said people from school district employees to the construction workers “went beyond to ensure everything was finished.”

“The security and upgrades were the majority of work done this summer,” he said.

To meet safety concerns, he said most schools now have a single entry for visitors.

Sone of the projects included the following:

Opening up the high school’s Junior ROTC room, the cafeteria, the hallways, remodeling restrooms to become ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and allowing the office space to flow much more efficiently.

Roofing and new exterior have been completed at NELC to include a single entry point.

Building a single entry entrance at Lahontan Elementary School was accomplished.

Upgrading the parking lot and bus areas, including installation of new lights, took place at Numa Elementary School. Also, a new and more efficient student pickup and drop-off areas were constructed as was a safer bus turnaround area.

Renovating the middle school gymnasium.

Byrd said A & K Earth Movers provided an overflow parking area on the north side of Numa. Underground electrical lines for the new parking lot lighting have also been installed.

Trustee Nona McFarlane said she wishes the school district could have an open house at each site to show the improvements.

“Our taxpayers would be so proud of what we have done,” she said.

Board President Ron Evans said he was pleased so many local firms were used in the various projects around the district.

“I am very impressed with the renovations,” added Trustee Carmen Shank.

The trustees also asked Byrd about the process being made on what it would take and cost to renovate the former West End Elemenarty School, which begins its second year with no students.

Byrd said he met with the architect who said he would need more time assessing the school and renovation costs.

Trustee Steve Nunn made it very clear that he does not want to set a cap that is unrealistic to renovate the school.

Because the facility is not a school anymore, trustees also voted to change the name of the buiding to West End Complex.

In other action, trustees tabled a discuss on approving $6,000, which would be allocated annually to student group travel expenses if funds are available after count day.

Churchill County residents Jim Falk raised concerns about the wisdom of the state and board adopting Common Core standards. While board member Greg Koenig asked Falk to provide specifics on why he doesn’t like Common Core, Schank said she wants input from teachers.

“We’re all watching this closely,” she said of he first-year program.

Falk said five states have now refused to implement Common Core.

Dale A.R. Erquiaga, a Fallon native who was formerly Gov. Brian Sandoval’s senior adviser, is now Superintendent of Public Instruction for Nevada. He will visit Fallon on Sept. 9 from 9 a.m.-noon.