Ground has been broken at Churchill County High School for a new music room.
With only two weeks to go before students start school in Churchill County, the school district’s maintenance department is wrapping up its summer projects.
Brian Byrd, director of Maintenance, addressed the Churchill County School Board at Thursday’s meeting on finished and on going projects.
“It’s been a very busy summer, but we are putting in another successful venture with these guys,” Byrd said of his staff. “During the welcome back nights (later this month), the work they put in will be noticed and appreciated.”
One of the major projects is repinning the lock cylinders in all the schools and then reissuing 2,700 keys. Because the work is tedious, Byrd said administrators and teachers at each site were understanding and patient.
Byrd said the repinning project is now finished.
Afterward, Byrd said the school district will have a stricter key control. Once administrators distribute keys and record the information on a form, Byrd said the information will be entered into the school district’s computerized system.
He said the school district will be in better shape from both an accounting and security standpoint if the various sites distribute the keys.
Additionally, he said Ferguson Construction is near completion on the high-school science building by renovating restrooms to be ADA compliance, adding new fixtures and partitions and replacing water valves.
“Completion of that project will wrap up before the staff reports,” he said.
Byrd also said a greenhouse for the CCHS agriculture programs has been erected.
Work on the new music building addition has been progressing. About half the work is completed. He said renovation of the current theater is nearing completion, and Hiskett and Sons has broken ground for the new music room addition.
“It’s turning out to be nice,” Byrd explained. “Mr. (Glen) Perazzo (drama teacher) and his students will be incredibly happy (with the theater).”
The project’s deadline is December for the music room addition.
Byrd also said crews have been working at the various sites ensuring outside facilities are in good shape, something that trustee Matt Hyde has noticed.
“It’s amazing how beautiful the football field looks,” he said. “The facilities are second to none. The only facility that compares to us is (Bishop) Manogue High School in Reno.”
Hyde said he continually receives positive comments about the landscaping and fields.
“I agree” interjected trustee Carmen Schank.
Byrd said Hiskett and Sons will begin removing the modular buildings at E.C. Best Elementary School sometime this month.
In other school news, Dr. Sandra Sheldon, superintendent of schools, said 128 four-year-old students have qualified for Pre-K grants. Approximately 93 students in grades 1-6 and another 45 at the high school were involved with summer school. Sheldon said 30 high-school students took credit retrieval classes.
Teachers report to meetings on Aug. 12. School begins the following Wednesday.