Four West Valley Elementary Schools Get Bigger, Better

Books line the shelves of the new library at Seth Woodard Elementary.

A new restroom resonated with classical music as a tile layer worked away this week at Pasadena Park Elementary.

All told, the additions to four West Valley grade schools are close to completion. The additions will be ready for occupancy by spring break, if not sooner.

Seth Woodard, Pasadena Park, Ness and Orchard Center elementary schools each are growing by the equivalent of four classrooms. The school-expansion project began after West Valley patrons approved a $4.2 million bond issue in February 1996.

A low bid of $2.415 million and the fact that construction has run smoothly with few change orders, means the district will have some money left over.

The board will decide over the next month or so how that money is to be spent.

“I can tell you what I’m not going to do with that money,” said Superintendent Dave Smith. “I’m not going to do things that were in the previous (defeated) bond issue. The people have said they didn’t want that stuff.”

Meanwhile, each West Valley school has received $10,000 for technology wiring. Seth Woodard has received $20,000 for more books for its library.

When Seth Woodard started as primarily a fifth-grade school, it was considered a pilot school and given a minimal library.

Seth Woodard is also getting a new parking lot, just to the east of the building. Pasadena will have a redesigned bus drop-off and pick-up at the east end of its addition.

When students move into the new classrooms around the district, music teachers, counselors and behavior specialists will heave a sigh of relief.

After offices set up in hallways, on-stage and in locker rooms, they will finally have more workable spaces.

, DataTimes