Even while classes are out for the summer, there was still plenty of activity on local school campuses. A few projects have been completed for the Riverbank Unified School District over the past few months, just in time for the beginning of the 2017-18 school year that will start on Aug. 9. The Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Rudy Serrato expressed that the summer is a busy time of year for this department.

“They deep clean and perform maintenance that can’t be completed during the traditional school year,” said Serrato. “In addition to this work we have a few larger projects going on this summer.”

If you have driven by on Santa Fe Street you may have noticed some work being done at Cardozo Middle School. The exterior is being painted by Alpha G Painting Inc. which began on June 5 and should be completed by July 28. There was also pavement work that was completed last month that included resealing and restriping of the parking lots.

“Both of these projects were deferred during the recession,” stated Serrato. “Cardozo is also creating a new computer lab. It will be ready for the start of school in August.”

Among the other projects was the installation of a 20’x40’ shade canopy over the playground at Mesa Verde Elementary that was made possible by the Mesa Verde Parent Teacher Club that raised funds and purchased the canopy. The installation was completed by Park Associates Inc. last month.

“It’s great to see that the parent community raised funds for a shade structure at Mesa Verde Elementary,” said RUSD Superintendent Dr. Daryl Camp.

Another project that will be completed prior to the start of school is a security fence at the front of the Riverbank Language Academy.

“The painting is going well. They are a few days behind schedule, but will be finished before the start of school,” added Serrato. “The other projects are also going well. The unfinished projects are in the home stretch. It is down to these next two weeks.”