WV must grade work delays

It’s high school physics 101: Every action has an opposite, equal reaction.

Two days of classes lost to a missed construction deadline on West Valley High School’s ongoing $30 million remodel will mean two class days shoehorned into the academic calendar down the road.

When those makeup days take place, as well as how West Valley School Board formally reacts to missed construction deadlines, will be on the table Sept. 14 at the board’s next meeting.

Classes were supposed to start Wednesday at West Valley High School, but at the last minute, officials decided to hold off until Friday morning because of construction delays. Classes will go from 8 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. that day.

“We have multiple days that could work,” as makeup days, said Pamela McLeod, school board president. “We’d like students to get as much class time in as possible before taking the WASL in April.”

WASL, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, is a must-pass test for many students and the state’s answer to the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Another option would be tacking two days onto the end of the school year, but the instruction would be better put to use before the test, McLeod said. The entire school board will have to weigh in before a decision is final.

Another decision to be made is whether the school district should penalize Garco Construction Company for not having the school ready on time. Portions of the building slated for completion this fall were supposed to be ready for teachers to move in Sept. 1, but not all teachers could. Tuesday afternoon, with instruction scheduled to begin the following morning, carpet was still being laid in some classrooms.

Garco Vice President Frank Etter did not return messages placed by The Spokesman-Review Tuesday and Wednesday.

The deadline penalty for the $30 million project is $500 a day.

“There are $500 penalties in the contract. That means that according to the contract, the school can collect a penalty,” said Dave Smith, project manager and former West Valley superintendent. “We’re so busy getting things done, we’re not worried about $500 a day.”

Two days beyond deadline is not a big deal in a project that spans two years and isn’t scheduled for completion until fall of 2007, Smith said. Roughly 240 workers swarmed the project last week. This week the number of workers is about 150, Smith said. He doesn’t believe the quality of the work suffered during the push to open school on time.

McLeod said Sept. 14 will be the first board meeting since the delay, and the first time they’ll discuss it as a group.

Students didn’t seem to mind the extra two days of summer. Senior Jenny Gudgel said she had homework already. She used the extra time to polish a report for her Advanced Placement English class and for one last summer night hanging out with the West Valley High School dance team. She did a walk-through of the high school Tuesday and gave it props.

“It was really cool,” Gudgel said. “I’m so excited. I kind of wish it was done when we started school because this is my senior year.”