WATSONVILLE — As the Aug. 16 start day approaches, schools across Pajaro Valley Unified School District are girding themselves for the onslaught of students fresh from their summer break.
At the same time, construction crews are wrapping up about 50 projects at 27 sites throughout the district, which range from roofs to new playgrounds to paint jobs.
But despite the apparent disarray at some sites, most projects are “98 to 99 percent complete,” PVUSD Director of Maintenance, Operations and Facilities Victor Sandoval said.
This includes ADA accessible walkways, play areas and bathrooms, he said.
“Every school is safe,” Sandoval said.
Among other things, every building at Pajaro Middle School got a new roof and saw its basketball court repaved.
One of the biggest changes occurred at nearly every elementary school throughout the district, with the installation of security fences.
Freedom and Mintie White elementary schools are now encircled by the so-called perimeter safety fences, while the remaining schools in the district have partial fences.
These will funnel visitors through the office, where they must check in before being allowed access.
All of this is an effort by district officials to bolster student safety by limiting access points, Sandoval said.
“It’s all about safety,” he said.
Brand new portable classrooms at H.A. Hyde Elementary School are awaiting air quality testing after teachers complained about strong smells, Sandoval said.
In addition, H.A. Hyde and Alianza Charter schools will run on backup generators for an estimated three weeks as the district waits for PG&E to approve newly refurbished systems, Sandoval said.
According to Sandoval, damage caused by heavy winter rains put the utility company behind schedule.
“The storms really set them back,” he said. “We were not on their radar.”
Sandoval praised PVUSD’s planning department, which he said managed to complete dozens of projects before the start of school.
“We’ve done pretty good so far,” he said.
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For a complete list of ongoing and completed projects in Pajaro Valley Unified School District, visit tinyurl.com/yc9x3dxa.
