Summer vacation is a time for barbecues, swimming, camping and sunscreen, but it’s also the busy season for building and maintenance crews with Battle Ground Public Schools. This year, the largest project is a replacement of roofing material at the Daybreak, Chief Umtuch and Tukes Valley campuses.
All three schools were built in 2008 and 2009 as part of a bond approved by voters in 2005. Kevin Jolma, the district’s executive director of facilities said, “Those roofs were warrantied for 15 years and are ready to be replaced. These renovations should give us the same lifespan or better at a substantial cost savings compared to a full tear-off and replacement.”
Jolma said Amboy Middle School is also on the list for similar roof repairs, but that project is on hold until next summer. Those projects are being funded through the district’s capital levy, approved by voters in 2023. Additional projects planned with that funding include a new building for the construction trades program at Battle Ground High School and upgrades to the health sciences and culinary arts spaces at both Battle Ground and Prairie high schools. Several of those projects are in the planning stages. An upgrade to the main entrance at BGHS is likely to begin next summer.
Other projects
In addition to those roof repairs, crews have installed additional security fencing at the Pleasant Valley campus. Work is also being done to replace couplings that have begun failing in the heating and cooling system at Yacolt Primary School.
Meanwhile, planning work continues on several other projects. Work will begin later this summer to relocate jump pits at Prairie High School. The current configuration has athletes running toward bleachers, presenting a potential hazard for runners trying to stop. Those pits will be relocated to the north end of the track and field area. Covered bleachers and an upgrade of Prairie’s fieldhouse are also slated for next summer.
Also starting later this summer is construction on a new home for Battle Ground Virtual Academy on the Prairie High School campus. This building will increase capacity for the online school while also freeing up additional space for River HomeLink, where BGVA is currently located. That project is funded through impact fees paid by developers.
Impact fees were also used to build the new central operations building and warehouse space near the existing warehouse north of Battle Ground High School. This building will consolidate several departments currently spread out across the district and greatly expand warehouse space, saving money through larger bulk purchases. That building is expected to be completed shortly after the start of the 2025-26 school year.
