Sizzling summer for Post Falls school projects
BRIAN WALKER/bwalker@cdapress.com | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 4 months AGO
<p>Wyatt Hopper, an electrician with Kaestner Electric, works on the installation of an exit sign Wednesday during construction of an expansion project at River City Middle School in Post Falls.</p>
<p>Steve Washburn, owner of Washburn Floors, spreads an adhesive product on the floor in one of 13 new classrooms while preparing to lay a vinyl composite top.</p>
POST FALLS - It's been a race to the finish with one Post Falls school building construction project this summer, and the district reaching the starting line on another.
Contractors Northwest Inc. (CNI) is completing the $3 million second-story addition and kitchen expansion at River City Middle School.
School Superintendent Jerry Keane said the district knew from the start of the project that it would be a tight squeeze to have it done before the start of school on Sept. 8, but that goal will be reached.
"The River City addition will be open for students the first day of school," Keane said. "We are extremely pleased regarding how well that project has gone. The timeline (over the summer) was extremely short for a project of that size. We may not have our lockers in yet, but they will be installed shortly after school starts if not before."
Meanwhile, CNI is also prepping the site of the new $8 million elementary school west of Greensferry Road north of Poleline Avenue for construction.
"We are very motivated to get the structure 'dried in' prior to winter," Keane said.
The elementary will be built to alleviate overcrowding at other schools. Construction is expected to finish by fall 2016. Students who live in the Fieldstone subdivision will attend the school plus others as boundaries are adjusted next year.
The district also completed a remodel of Mullan Trail Elementary School this summer that includes new windows, siding, carpet, a dropped ceiling and paint. Heating units were installed at Mullan Trail, Frederick Post Kindergarten and Seltice Elementary.
"It has been an extremely busy and productive summer of construction and improvements, with more to come in 2016," Keane said.
An architect has started working on the performing arts auditorium at Post Falls High.
"We hope to be able to bid the project sometime prior to the first of the year," Keane said.
An architect for the PFHS auxiliary gym will be chosen in the near future, Keane said. Both projects at the high school are slated to be completed for the start of school in 2016, but the district may be able to expedite the auditorium.
Two new classrooms will be added to West Ridge Elementary School next summer.
Post Falls voters in March approved a $19.5 million facility bond that funds the projects.
ARTICLES BY BRIAN WALKER/BWALKER@CDAPRESS.COM
Post Falls fee hikes proposed
New dog adoption fee floated; 117-acre zone change requested
Building a better economy
Local jobless rate dips slightly to 4.7 percent
POST FALLS - When looking at the economic picture, Scott Krajack sees it much like peeking out the window on a typical unsettled North Idaho spring day.
Kootenai, Plummer-Worley, St. Maries school levies pass
Voters in the Kootenai, St. Maries and Plummer-Worley school districts on Tuesday approved supplemental levies to support maintenance and operations.