School modernization projects begin

Schools around Huntington Beach are undergoing face-lifts funded by state bonds, including Measure C, a $238-billion bond passed by voters in March 2004.

Three other propositions, all passed within the last eight years, are being used to fund projects. The California Office of Public School Instruction has a matching program for modernization projects in which it will provide 60% of the funding, with the districts responsible for the other 40%. Other bonds have a 50-50 split.

Schools in each of the three districts have been under construction, or in the planning stages, with some major construction going on this summer.

Huntington Beach Union

High School District

Most schools are upgrading classroom facilities, but Ocean View High School is getting a whole new building.

“Ocean View is exciting for us because we’re adding a new classroom building,” said Steve Ritter, assistant superintendent at Huntington Beach Union High School District. “[Construction] began in 2005, and we’re expecting to complete that in the first quarter of 2007 ? it’s an important part of their program over there.”

In addition to the new building, the school will also be updating its existing campus and classrooms, especially for rooms that had spatial constraints, Ritter said.

Modernization is also well underway at Marina High School, Ritter said. Marina was ahead of the game with some initial projects completed in advance of the bond. This summer, the school is undergoing full scale modernization and reconstruction, improving basic infrastructure, including replacing outdated fire alarm systems, lighting, plumbing, roofing, drains, sewers and other utility systems, Ritter said.

“Of course, the big focus is seismic upgrades to make the classrooms safer,” he said. “Marina is interesting ? it’s one of those schools, the community around the campus has soil issues that are huge ? we’re stabilizing and repairing buildings that were, in some cases, experiencing some sinkage.”

Edison and Huntington Beach high schools are not yet in the major construction stage, although some projects have already been completed. Edison’s parking lot has been resurfaced and repaired, and tennis court renovations are already completed. A new fire alarm system has also been installed. The district is planning to move forward to accept bids for Edison’s full modernization, which they hope will begin during the next school year.

A new maintenance facility stands completed at Huntington High, and Ritter said the district hopes to begin classroom upgrades in January, including construction of a fine arts lab.

“It’s overdue,” Ritter said of the modernization. “It’s a very aggressive program in that we’re going to have all our schools completed by the end of this next school year.”

The Huntington Beach City School District is almost complete with its modernization program, with only one school still undergoing major construction.

Huntington Beach City School District

Ethel Dwyer Middle School is now past the halfway mark in its construction plan, with the second half of the main building now under construction, said Mike Curran, the district’s chief business official.

Like most schools, Dwyer classrooms are being revamped with new flooring, new ceilings and new windows.

Despite challenges in the construction process, the school is scheduled to be complete by Oct. 31, Curran said.

“The middle school has been the biggest challenge because it’s a 70-year-old building,” he said. “Because it’s so old, and we didn’t have all the blueprints of things that had been done, we kept running into problems, unanticipated problems, and each one presented more of a challenge and delayed the project.”

One of the biggest hurdles was the installation of an elevator in the two-story building so the school conformed with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

“It makes sense, so the kids can get up to the second floor, but the cost has been incredible,” Curran said. “It’s been a complicated project, just putting in that elevator, but the most difficult thing has happened.”

Except for minor things that need to be done, the other schools in the district are almost all completed, Curran said.

Ocean View School District

Two Huntington Beach schools in the Ocean View School District are undergoing construction this summer.

Marine View Middle School and Village View Elementary School are in phase one of a two-phase modernization, with the first half to be completed by the end of the summer.

Instead of bringing in portable classrooms and beginning construction during the school year, the Ocean View district scheduled the modernization program to be completed during the summer months, said Scott Stark, the district’s chief operations and facilities officer.

“It’s very intrusive to the educational environment to move the kids around to work in the classroom,” he said. “If we are building new buildings, we can easily isolate the construction sites from the students, and that’s the ideal candidate for doing work ? during the school year.”

The district will be constructing two such buildings, and the district is currently bidding for installation of modular buildings for child care and a library.

The Village View parking lot has been demolished and expanded for more efficient parent drop-off area, Stark said.

Also on the schedule for Village View is a new electrical distribution system for later improvements, including a new heating and air conditioning system.

Major restroom remodeling is underway so the district is compliant with the disabilities act.

Marine View will have similar construction, but one of the biggest projects at the campus was the asbestos abatement. Asbestos was used as a fireproofing material when the school was built and has been replaced with a new material.

When students return to school in the fall, they can look forward to new, more modern ceilings, new carpeting, tile, lighting, technology, infrastructure and wall coverings.

“When we put in new carpeting, new painting and fresh lighting and modern drop ceilings, it can only help to enhance the educational environment for students,” Stark said. “The inside will be much fresher and much brighter.”

Each modernization program seeks to make the schools’ environment more inviting and more conducive to learning, district officials said.

For more information about the construction, call the appropriate district office.