Indirectly, High School Project Begins

Article Launched: 08/31/2005 06:32:31 AM

Indirectly, High School Project Begins
By David Henson/Staff Writer

Construction for Dixon's new high school will begin within the coming weeks - indirectly at least.

While the Dixon Unified School District has yet to turn its first shovel of soil, work on adjacent properties, which are tied to the new school, has started.

The city has been excavating an adjacent draining pond and piling the excess dirt on the new school site.

That dirt will be used by Brookfield Homes for the site-grading the Danville-based company has promised to provide to the district free-of-charge.

"Indirectly, when Brookfield starts grading the property, the high school project begins," said Ed Eusebio, the school district's director of facilities.

Eusebio will update Dixon trustees on the progress and timeline of the high school's construction Thursday night.

"This is a good news piece. The timeline hasn't changed," said Superintendent Wally Holbrook, noting that construction plans are on schedule.

In addition, trustees will go over a list of "alternative deductibles," or a potential list of items that can be deleted, delayed or substituted to keep the project within budget.

After receiving site-approval from the state last week, the district is finishing up its design and construction plans for the school to send to the state for consideration next week, Holbrook said.

Bidding for the project, which includes a pre-qualification process, is expected to be completed by November with ground-breaking to follow shortly after.

In other business, trustees will discuss reorganizing its district office to create new space for two new administrative positions and look at the possibility of procuring an improved, more professional dais from which to conduct business.

The search process for finding a replacement for Superintendent Holbrook, who will step down in January, is set for more discussion as well.

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. at the district office at 180 S. First Street.

David Henson can be reached at dixon@thereporter.com.