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Published on 08/05/1996 All articles from this issue

High schools' summer construction ahead of schedule, phase II planning in progress

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By Kristina Allen / Town Crier Staff Writer

Although the parking lots at Los Altos and Mountain View High schools are still blocked with piles of dirt and gravel, school officials said the summer phase of construction is going along as scheduled and all underground work will be completed before the first day of instruction on Aug. 28.

During the summer, Vanir Construction has been digging trenches on both campuses to install electrical conduit for cable and fiber optics installation, plumbing and drainage equipment so that it would be ready and accessible for a massive $58 million renovation of high school facilities. The five-year plan includes additional classrooms, updated libraries and new science rooms.

"Mountain View (High School) will be completed before Los Altos," said Don Phillips, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District superintendent. "In a dual project like this, you always start construction of one site ahead of the other. We have a punch list that is a check list that goes over the final details. Mountain View is scheduled to have its punch list done by Aug. 9 but Los Altos will not have theirs done until Aug. 15."

The staff will be allowed back on the campuses to prepare for the upcoming school year on Aug. 19. Phillips said minor construction work will continue for three months into the school year, but will not interfere with students' and teachers' activities.

Wires and fiber optics will be pulled through the underground conduit installed this summer, a new electrical box will be installed in October and basic piping, both electrical and plumbing, will be installed, according to plans.

The only remnants of the summer construction will be the fencing around areas of new grass, but otherwise the campus should be cleaned and ready to go for student and faculty use, Phillips said. District officials said the completion of the underground construction will not only be on schedule but will also cost less than originally planned.

"Value engineering, with the help of Vanir Construction, could take $150,000 off the original budgeted amount," Phillips said. "This project should be below the original budgeted amount."

Doug Evans of Vanir Construction agrees that the project appears to be costing less than originally thought.

"We planned for a lot of unexpected things that could be found underground," Evans said. "But we didn't find anything and the project went along smoothly."

"The quality of work has met or exceeded the highest of standards," Phillips said.

Upon the completion of the summer construction, the district can begin the second phase of work on the schools. Phase II plans are still not finalized because current cost estimates are higher than the funding budgeted. Throughout the month of July, the Construction Overview Committee (COC) reviewed the original construction plans and explored less expensive construction options. Members also studied ways to generate additional funding. This Thursday, district officials have scheduled a special meeting with the board to discuss COC recommendations.

"We will look at the overall project and scope of work," Phillips said. "The committee has met with faculty and staff to gain input on what they would like and how much it would cost. We will be refining the estimates of the project and how to find the money within the budget to fund complete it."

The special meeting, open to the public, is at 7 p.m. at the district offices, 1299 Bryant Ave., Mountain View.