It’s hard to miss the west side of Bronco Stadium towering above all else on the horizon with a capacity of 4,800 seats. Of those, 598 will be chair-back seats in the center of the bleachers. The stadium and renovations to the field house will be the first projects completed from the 2009 bond issue.  The project will be completed in time for the first home game on Sept. 10.

Jeff Woodard, director of bonds and construction, said installation of the bleachers was completed July 31. The installation of the 598 chair-back seats begins next week. Crews are also working on finishing the interior and exterior of the press box. The new press box is modular, so a large portion of the assembly was completed offsite.

The press box on the east side of the stadium will remain in use once the west side of the stadium is completed. Since a new sound system was installed in 2005, district officials made the decision to install an additional system with the new press box, which can piggyback onto the 2005 system. For smaller events, such as morning band practice and elementary events, students and staff can use the 2005 sound system in the original press box. Adding onto the original system instead of installing an all new system saved the district as much as $20,000.  The east press box will also be used for camera crews when football games are televised.

Work is scheduled to begin next week for the MHS renovation and remodeling project. Over the next two-and-a-half years, crews will construct new 9th, 11th and 12th grade centers, a new commons area and cafeteria. The public is invited to mark a new chapter in the history of Mustang Public Schools. At 10 a.m. on Friday, June 4, in front of the Central Building, dignitaries including former principals of Mustang High School, will turn the dirt to officially start the school’s $38 million renovation. A reception will follow the groundbreaking ceremony.The project will include remodeling approximately 91,000 square feet of existing facilities and creating 79,000 square feet of new classrooms, administrative areas and support areas. The main classroom buildings will be under one roof by the time the project is completed. The reinvention is being made possible thanks to voters in the Mustang Public School District who approved a 2009 bond issue.

Structural steel is going up for what will be the new commons area on the campus of MHS. The slab is also complete (left) for the two-story classroom building that will sit in front of the Central Building.

“We are having weekly meetings with the architects and Timberlake,” Woodard said.

Robert Renshaw, vice-president of operations for Timberlake Construction, said the project was going well.

“The project is basically a two-year project,” Renshaw said. “We will start in late spring in 2010 and complete the project in the summer of 2012. There are several phases. When new construction is finished, students and faculty will be moved into the new buildings. When existing buildings have been vacated, renovation of those areas will begin. Some renovation will be completed during summer breaks.”

A proposed timeline released in September called for the bus drop off to be moved to a temporary oval. The oval was originally scheduled to be completed by the time students and staff return after winter break. The timeline has been modified, however, and students, staff and patrons should not expect a change to the current traffic routes until later in the spring. The district, MA+ Architecture and Timberlake Construction are evaluating several options for the location of the modified bus and car drop off area as well.

“Behind the scenes there are always changes,” Woodard said. “We have some detailed individuals working on the project, lots of knowledge and lots of skill. At this point, I couldn’t be any happier.”

Mustang North Middle School is receiving eight new classrooms as well as a new cafeteria and an enlarged dining area. The cafeteria and dining area project will be complete by the time the students return after winter break. The classrooms may be completed as early as fall break.  The project is approximately 55 percent complete.

Mustang Creek Elementary’s new classroom addition will be completed in September. Fourth grade classes are scheduled to move into the new classrooms over fall break.

“HOMCO Construction has overcome drainage issues and done a really good job of staying on track,” Woodard said. “Everything has gone well with the project.”

Principal Meggan Wilson said the classrooms will be utilized even though the current economic crisis prevents the district from offering all-day kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year. Several teachers in pullout programs have been sharing rooms for several years. Once the fourth grade moves to the new wing, teachers will no longer have to share. When the time comes when the district is able to fund all-day kindergarten, teachers with pullout programs will share again to make room for the program.

Part of the 2009 bond issue projects is the re-roof on an older part of Mustang Trails Elementary. The project got underway over the winter break.

 

During an annual review of the district's facilities, site principals put together a list of what their building needed for the playgrounds. Ron Martin, director of operations, created a custom-plan to provide for the needs of each elementary school. Crews should complete installation of playground equipment, surface material and more by the end of March.

 

 

Ten new classrooms were added to Mustang Centennial Elementary. A fire access road will be added this summer to comply with state and local fire codes.