Paving to impact parking at several Highlands buildings

Parking at several Highlands school buildings will be impacted this week and next as crews pave the lots in preparation for the start of classes Aug. 31.

Work is part of $25 million in construction upgrades that will include new sidewalks and paved lots at the high school, elementary and early childhood center.

Visitors and employees will be able to park on the milled lots but will have to find alternate parking during paving. Parking also will be temporarily affected while crews paint new lines, district leaders said.

School board member Kristie Babinsack said the board targeted the work for summer to impact the least amount of people.

“Our goal in getting the capital projects approved quickly (in the spring) was to allow work to get started right away,” she said.

Each part of the project keeps student and staff safety in focus, she said.

“They are working on upgrades to the HVAC systems, electrical corrections and other upgrades,” she said. “All of the things they accomplish this summer are contingent on time, weather and supply chain issues, of course.”

The work schedule at the high school includes:

• Wednesday: Milling the student parking lot on the south side of the building;

• Thursday: Milling of the road and north parking lot;

• Friday: Completion of the path and sidewalk overlay;

• Monday: Paving in the rear parking lot where the marching band practices;

• Tuesday: Paving the student parking lot;

• Aug. 16: Paving the north parking lot and road.

Paving will continue Aug. 17 and 18 at the early childhood center. Dates for the elementary school have not been finalized but work could happen Aug. 21 and 22.

“The district leadership has been very thoughtful to prioritize the work that would improve the safety of the facilities,” board member Nicole Kocon said.

Improving safety and aesthetics is good for the entire school community, she said.

Chris Reiser, director of buildings and grounds, said work also extended to the community center along California Avenue.

The building sits on the middle school campus and is used for meetings, athletic events and more. Its main entrance was redone with a new concrete sidewalk, Reiser said.

Other work throughout the district will include lighting, boilers, roof replacement and air conditioning.

Nearly $2 million will be spent to replace the high school pool, which has been closed since 2021.

The pool is not expected to be ready for the start of the school year.