Major modernization project underway at Nelson Elementary School
CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- One of Clovis Unified School District's oldest campuses is undergoing a major transformation as crews work through the summer on a multi-year modernization project at Nelson Elementary School.
Construction has been underway since students left for summer break, but district officials say planning for the project began months earlier to ensure work could begin as soon as campus was empty.
"This project is a long time coming. It's multifaceted," said Rick Lawson, Clovis Unified's director of construction and engineering.
Lawson said the district began the bidding and procurement process well in advance to avoid delays and ensure materials would be ready when construction started.
"So when the summer months hit, kids are out of school. We can attack those classrooms right away," he said.
Built in the 1950s, Nelson Elementary is receiving significant infrastructure upgrades.
Inside classrooms, crews are installing new cabinetry and bookshelves while updating gas and electrical systems to meet current standards.
"When we have a school that was built in the 50s, those things need to be upgraded, and then you have to bring them up with the current code," Lawson said.
One of the most noticeable changes is happening near the front of campus, where one of the school's two libraries once stood.
That building has been demolished to make way for a new administration building.
The new facility will centralize staff services, housing nurses, school psychologists and other support personnel.
It will also improve campus security by relocating administrative offices closer to the main entrance.
"So when the parents come in in the front of the school, they have to check in at the admin," Lawson said. "We have systems in place that they check in, they get a visitor's badge and then they can be escorted throughout the campus."
Although construction will continue after students return to class, district officials say safety measures will be in place to keep the work areas separated from students and staff.
Lawson said the project reflects Clovis Unified's commitment to providing every student with access to quality facilities, regardless of when their school was built.
"Our philosophy in Clovis is that every school, every student has the same opportunity, whether a school was built in the 50s or a school was built in the 2000s," he said.
The new administration building is expected to be completed next spring, while the overall modernization project is scheduled for completion by the 2027-28 school year.
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