Audience members applauded at Monday’s school board meeting as Patterson Unified School District officials announced that the Patterson High School shower-locker building is finished and coaches are moving in.

Portable classrooms at Patterson High and Creekside Middle School are also complete. In addition, a new high school auditorium air conditioning system runs, and some of the oldest high school classrooms are getting a facelift.

“I hope you’ve been out and taken a look at the finished projects,” said Mark Wheeler, the district’s manager of facilities and construction. “We’ve had some long days.”

Wheeler said the 50-year-old gymnasium has faced the most delays, and the foyer will not be complete when school opens Monday. One physical education class per period should be able to use the gym, however, as the construction area will be fenced off.

Patterson High School sports teams will share Creekside Middle School’s gym until work is finished.

Renovations of the 130-140 classroom wing at Patterson High are ahead of schedule. However, students will start class in temporary rooms, because the work will not be completed until the end of the month.

The board approved $69,000 in change orders that Wheeler had reviewed at a previous meeting for all the projects. The modernization budget allowed 20 percent for unforeseen costs, and numbers are way under budget, running as little as 2 percent, Wheeler said.

“We’re in good shape as far as the contingency,” Wheeler said. “We’re keeping the projects on schedule.”

Work on all-weather surfaces for Patterson Community Stadium at the high school has moved along rapidly — the field’s hard surface should be installed Sunday, and green turf will be down Monday. The track will go in at the end of the football season, and the scoreboard has been ordered, Wheeler reported.

“It will be a great asset to the community and the school,” he said. “The track and field is the best project out there.”

The board plans to tour the modernization projects Aug. 20, with its monthly meeting following at the Patterson High School library.

Superintendent Patrick Sweeney commended Wheeler and district employees for their efforts.

“This much construction in a short period of time — it’s marvelous how much has been done this summer,” Sweeney said. 

 Meeting highlights

More than $48,000 was approved to recruit and retain teachers at Grayson Charter, Las Palmas, Northmead and Rising Sun schools. The money will help provide support for students and teachers and small-group instruction.

Superintendent Patrick Sweeney presented the district’s goals for 2007-08 —inspiring students to learn, personalizing each student’s learning experience and developing outstanding citizens.

The board also approved David Stubbs as principal of Patterson High School at a special meeting Thursday.