By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Construction to refurbish Grant Bowler Elementary School in Logandale will still be ongoing when school starts next week but students will not be adversely affected and the project is actually ahead of schedule.

The last part of the five-phase rehabilitation project, which started Jan. 8, should be completely finished by the end of October, a month earlier than projections, according to Shawna Jessen Grant Bowler principal, quite an achievement considering the scope of the project.

“As a matter of fact, Phase Four of the project wasn’t even supposed to begin until after school started this fall and the contractor expects to have it completely done by Friday,” Jessen said. “It’s unfortunate that second grade and a couple of first grade classes will remain in the learning cottages (portable classrooms) for a while, but they’ll be in their regular classrooms in no time.

“There are probably a few things that we’ll be scrambling to finish when school starts, but we’ll be open for business as usual,” Jessen said.

The rehabilitation of the elementary school was divided into five major phases. They include:

• Phase one involved the library and 4th and 5th grade halls;

• Phases two and three were to be done over the summer and included the cafeteria, administration area, and kindergarten and 1st grade rooms;

• Phase four included the 2nd grade wing, and

• Phase five included the art, music and PE rooms.

All phases of construction included new carpet, paint, plumbing, electrical work, bathrooms, ceilings and high tech upgrades for all the classrooms. Additionally, the school got new HVAC, a new kitchen, new faculty area and all new doors complete with required security measures. A new roof is coming in a future project.

Big Town Mechanical, a Moapa Valley contractor, is responsible for the elementary school project and Jessen said the firm has done an outstanding job.

“I just can’t say enough about them,” she said. “They were forced to start late but they’ve not only made up the time, they’re going to finish ahead of schedule.

“Dennis Miller has been the project manager from the school district and he has been very instrumental in getting everything completed,” she said.

Big Town Mechanical officials agreed.

“There have been a few bumps along the way, but with the help of the faculty and the school district people (Miller) we’ve managed to get over them,” said Gary Ondrisko, job site superintendent.

Big Town shop superintendent Steve Bennett said the company is very pleased with the progress it’s been able to make.

“This has been a very good project,” Bennett said. “We’ve had a terrific summer and made up a lot of time.”

Jessen adds, however, that the project hasn’t been all roses.

“The teachers have had to give a lot to the process but they’ve been very understanding,” she said. “It’s not been easy, but it’s happening. Even if we hit a few hiccups along the way we’ll still finish on time and, when all is said and done, the kids will be able to line up with their teachers on Monday morning and be ready to go.

Jessen added that in addition to the construction, “We’re getting new computers in September so the whole school will be like new.”