CVHS construction continues

The green tarps are on the move again at Crescenta Valley High School as repairs on building 7000 are completed and construction crews begin work on building 1000.

The repairs are due to poor construction during a $41 million remodeling project that had been completed in 2002. Buildings 1000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 were scheduled for repairs after several areas were found to have leaks during heavy rains. The leaks caused damage to walls, which created a breeding ground for mold. A diagnostic-type review of the work found windows with gaps between the frames and the structures, and cracking in the plaster walls.

The repairs began with building 5000, which were completed in December 2008, followed by repairs to building 7000.

“We will be moving into 7000 for summer school,” said Principal Linda Evans.

Over the summer the 1000 building, which contains the school’s library, will be closed while repairs are being made.

In April 2008, temporary classrooms were positioned in the employees’ parking lot at the corner of Ramsdell and Community avenues and in the MacDonald Auditorium parking lot while the 7000 building was being worked on. Most of the temporary classroom buildings will be removed from the parking lot at Ramsdell and Community avenues.

“We will be keeping the [temporary] classrooms that are in the [MacDonald] Auditorium until the end of the first semester [next school year],” Evans confirmed.

Eventually all temporary buildings will be gone and staff parking will return to normal. The First Baptist Church on La Crescenta Avenue has been serving as staff parking since the temporary classrooms were installed.

“We are very appreciative of the church’s cooperation,” said John Fenton, Glendale district’s representative for development and facilities. “The students have been so cooperative, too.” Fenton said that the repairs are on schedule and crews continue to find the same construction defects throughout the buildings. The district is in litigation presently with the companies involved with the original construction. The estimated cost of the repairs is between $7-$8 million.

He added the district has been sensitive to the needs of the school by adjusting construction schedules during the school’s testing period and other events.

Evans said the staff and district have worked together and students have been able to continue their studies without much interference.

“I think we have all worked really hard to accommodate testing schedules and the school needs,” she said. “[It shows] that learning can take place anywhere, it doesn’t have to be a perfect [setting]. It is this type of can-do attitude that has made it work,” Evans said, adding, “Still, we will be glad to have it all done.”

Construction is scheduled to be completed by December 2009.