Sonora, CA -– Ahead of Tuesday’s Sonora Union High School District Trustees’ meeting, Superintendent Pat Chabot waxes enthusiastic about construction progress on campus.
Chabot shares, “Our field is almost done — they are just finishing up some of the fine detail work.” Both impressed and amused, he chuckles as he recounts, “Last week on Thursday there were a whole bunch of guys…working on the field — on their hands and knees — looking at the seam between the [onfield] letters and the green grass. They had toothpicks and were picking out each individual fiber to make sure it is perfectly aligned…really doing some detail work…taking this job really seriously and [they] have pride in their work.”
Right now, additional rubber is being worked in to further thicken and soften the field, Chabot explains. After that and other details are completed, he guesstimates that the field might possibly be finished by the end of this week, although fencing is still being installed. Right now, he says, the track is ready enough for graduation, albeit, with an asphalt surface that is good for walking on.
However, after school is out plans are to apply the final finish coat, which, in order to be in compliance with warranty specifications, must sit, uninterrupted and cure for 28 days. “So we have to make sure the public stays off the track after the final coat is put on — otherwise it could damage [the surface],” Chabot confides.
Work Also In Progress, In The Wings
In other related news, Chabot reports that work on the cafeteria is on track, with dry walling and roofing being installed. Roofers are also busily at work on the library and administration buildings. “I am impressed with the quality of the workers and how well the students are putting up with the construction,” he comments.
More work is shortly in the wings, as Chabot points out. “We have gone out for bid for the [security] cameras, the roof on maintenance building and pool…and plan on awarding the bids at the June 7 meeting.” While the pool might take 12 to 15 months to complete, he anticipates that the surveillance cameras will be in by the time school starts up again or shortly thereafter. The roof project, which will involve re-purposing the metal roof that formerly sat atop the cafeteria, may complete ahead of that.
Public hearings relating to the district’s proposed budget of about $12.5 million and its local accountability control plan (LCAP) for the next school year are slated at the top of Tuesday’s meeting.
According to Chabot, the budget is comparable to this school year’s, as the district is staying even with regard to personnel, which comprises about 80 to 85 percent of the costs. He looks towards seeing a leveling off of student enrollment, which locally had been on the decline over the past eight years. Among the proposed LCAP additions this school year, Chabot says, is an alternative education counselor to further educate and guide students towards resources and developing career pathways. Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the first floor district conference room (100 School St.).