School projects complete School projects complete (May 14, 2004)

Good news is district has $367,739 left over

By Julie O'Shea

Construction projects at Mountain View-Whisman schools, for the most part, are complete, and district officials have found themselves with a bit of extra pocket cash -- $367,739, to be exact.

There is already a list circulating of things the money could go toward, including air conditioning for classrooms at Graham Middle School, paving work at Bubb Elementary and roof work at Slater.

As of yet, no decisions have been made. The money matter will go to the fiscal oversight advisory committee before the school board makes a final decision, said district finance chief Rebecca Wright. The fiscal oversight committee is meeting this week.

By law, the extra bond funds can only be used on construction-related projects and must be spent within three years of being cashed. The district cashed the bond in last summer, Wright said. The bond was passed by voters in 1998.

"Last time we did a construction project, I didn't have money left over," Wright said, adding she was delighted to have the unused funds this time around. "We still have a little more work to do."

The board must decided if it will spruce up the old Cooper School campus, district property currently leased to a preschool. Additional field work is also needed at Graham. The money for that project has already been set aside, said Jennifer Davlin, an engineer with Kitchell, the construction firm that oversaw the district's $36 million bond-funded improvement project.

All Mountain View-Whisman construction projects have been completed on schedule and on budget, Davlin added. Construction at Huff Elementary, the last to undergo major work, "finished a week ahead of schedule," Davlin said. Castro was the first main school to be completed.

Each Mountain View-Whisman campus received classroom overhauls, and most got their multipurpose rooms and restrooms renovated. Many were also given library additions and had their administration offices redone.

Crittenden Middle School and Monta Loma and Theuerkauf Elementary Schools weren't part of this construction project. These schools were in the old Whisman district, which passed its own bond measure before the two districts merged and were renovated years ago.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com.

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