Construction underway on pool

VANESSA FIERSTADT
Work is well underway on excavation of the swimming pool at Yosemite High School. The expectation is that the pool will be ready to use by the beginning of school next fall, or before. This is one of several current construction projects at the school. Funds are from the local bond passed by voters in 1998, state construction bond funds, private donations and grants. These funds cannot be used for anything but construction projects.

MEGAN SPANGLER

Work is now underway on the swimming pool at Yosemite High School. The long-awaited project was started in late November with a completion date set for June or July.

There are still five construction projects to be finished at the school: the pool complex, a 23-classroom building, the music classroom building, the performing arts center and the track/football field.

The music/choir building was scheduled to be completed by December 10 at a cost approximately $909,000.

When students move into that building, the current fine arts building will be converted into a 400-seat performing arts center.

“It will just be fabulous,” said Bill McCabe, Yosemite High School District superintendent, of the performing arts center.

The pool being built by Nadar Pools at a cost of $976,500. The buildings at the pool complex are still out to bid. Once the pool is complete it will be 25 yards by 25 meters. It is expected to be open on August 1 and will be open to the community. Students will have priority use of the pool.

The soccer field, which will be located directly behind the pool, will be 70 yards by 110 yards. The local Pop Warner football team will be allowed to use it for games and practice.

The 23-classroom building is estimated to cost $6-7 million.

Construction jobs are plentiful at this time which makes the costs high, McCabe said.

The track project will be over $600,000 and will include an all-weather surface on the track. The stadium will be re-crowned after all construction on it is finished. There will have to be some modifications to the football field because of the track, McCabe said. One thing that will be done to the new field is that there will be a new hybrid Bermuda sod infield.

On the other side of the football field, the softball fields are being re-done. There will be new dugouts; new chain link, new sprinklers and the field will be sized more to regulations.

The alternative schools, Evergreen and Ahwahnee, are getting two new classrooms. They will be installed in January or February. There will also be a new basketball court put in behind the buildings so that it is safer for the students to play basketball.

Funds for all of the construction projects have come from a bond passed by local voters in 1998, from state bond funds, grants and private donations. These funds can only be used for construction.