As school bells prepare to ring to welcome students back to class on Thursday, Aug. 10, there have been a number of projects started, and some completed, throughout the Escalon Unified School District during the summer.
Among them, renovations to cafeteria facilities at Collegeville and Farmington, work on the football field/stadium on the Escalon High School campus, some modernization work at Dent Elementary and more.
For the 2023-24 school year, the principals at local schools all return, and will be on hand to greet students on Thursday. They include Jason Furtado at Escalon High School, Mike Gaston at El Portal Middle School, Anthoni Varni at Dent Elementary, Julio Zambrano at Van Allen Elementary, Dr. George Megenney at Farmington and Collegeville elementary schools, Gustavo Arzac at Vista High and Joel Johannsen at Escalon Charter, Gateway Academy.
District Superintendent Ricado Chavez and Assistant Superintendnet Mark Vos also return and Chavez said he was looking forward to having students and staff back on the various campuses this week.
Facilities projects were spread throughout the district during the summer, officials said.
At Collegeville Elementary School, a major cafeteria facelift included new paint, HVAC unit, ceiling fans, new carpeting on the stage, an interactive screen and LED lighting.
Farmington Elementary School work in the cafeteria included installation of new LED lighting, carpet and an interactive screen.
The old cafeteria at Van Allen was updated to include new LED lighting, windows and had the wood floors refinished, as well as a new van.
Shade structures were completed at both Van Allen and Farmington Elementary Schools, officials added, to allow for alternative outdoor seating for lunch and recess.
At Escalon High School, the entrance to the campus will now be through the main office, as opposed to entering at the main hallway off the large parking lot.
“A walkway was poured from the parking lot to the new office door with new windows and it will have an automated entry lock that will allow staff to buzz parents and students into the building,” explained John Lial, District Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation. “There is new flooring throughout the office, and the office furniture will be reconfigured to accommodate the new layout.”
At Memorial Stadium/Engel Field on the EHS campus, there have been major renovations as well.
“All new drainage system was installed, new walkways around the stadium, new irrigation system on the field, new sod laid down, synthetic turf will be installed on the track, new goalposts, and new scoreboard to be installed,” Lial said.
At Dent Elementary School, Phase 2 of a Modernization and Expansion Project was started this summer.
“Phase 2 is the construction of two new classroom buildings that will house 18 new classrooms, a new library, conference room and restrooms,” explained Lial.
He said that all underground electrical and plumbing work is complete; footings have been poured for both new buildings and the slab is scheduled to be poured for one of the buildings next, with framing of the walls to begin shortly after that. Old portable classrooms on site are scheduled to be removed.
