Hays USD 489 BOE hears report on Roosevelt, HHS bond projects

On the left is the new parking lot and pick up and drop off area for Roosevelt Elementary School. On the right is the new gym.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Nabholz Construction told the Hays school board on Monday that construction on the Roosevelt Elementary School addition will be complete within about six weeks.

Nabholz gave updates on the Roosevelt and Hays High School construction projects at the meeting.

Nabholz has until December to finish the project under its contract, but representatives think they will be done sooner.

Last school year, the school used portable classrooms during the construction. However, those had to be removed to allow for the construction of new pick-up and drop-off lanes at the rear of the school.

USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson said he hopes to have the students in the new classrooms after Thanksgiving break.

On the left is an overhead view of Roosevelt Elementary School. The new addition is on the north side of the building. On the right is the new media center, including the new learning cave, which is a reading area with soft seating.

Roosevelt Elementary School construction budget

Until that move, Wilson said the school is making the best use of the room it has available.

The corridor for the new wing and the learning cave, which will be a reading room with soft seating in the media center, have been finished.

New sidewalks have been installed adjacent to the addition.

The Roosevelt project is on budget, with the exception of one previously approved change order. The project's total cost is $22.1 million.

Hays High

The photo on the right shows the main gym.

On the left, you can see the learning stairs, which will be part of the commons. On the right, a second-floor corridor above the commons connects the two academic wings. The football field can be seen in the distance.

The new Hays High School building is also on schedule and budget.

It is scheduled to be complete by the start of school in fall 2025.

The roof will soon go on the performing arts section of the school.

Flooring for the main and secondary gyms was poured about a week ago.

A conceptual drawing of the entrance to Hays High School. The commons will be in the middle, with academic wings on either side.

Construction workers are already installing drywall in some areas of the building, and windows will be coming in for some parts of the building by the end of the month.

The work on the softball fields should begin at the end of the month.

The Nabholz representatives said once the roofs are on the buildings, they start gaining a lot of ground on the construction. Once parts of the building are enclosed, they are less likely to be delayed by weather.

New Hays High School construction budget

Plans for the addition and renovation at O'Loughlin Elementary School have been finished, but the school board tabled a motion to accept Nabholz's guaranteed maximum price at its meeting on Monday.