TUSD summer projects – solar installations begin

While the students of the Tehachapi Unified School District are enjoying their summer vacation, there is no rest for the district. Projects are scheduled to begin at each of the schools to make them ready for the student's return in August. District Chief Administrator of Business Services Hojat Entezari outlined the long list of summer projects for the TUSD Board at their May 9 meeting.

Entezari said at the top of the list will be field maintenance at Coy Burnett Stadium. A major project involving all campuses will be the installation of automated door locks in all classrooms enabling them to be automatically locked remotely in case of an emergency.

The installation of solar panels at all the schools will begin in July, with the first canopy to be installed in the parking lot at Tehachapi High School. The Tompkins ground installation is also scheduled to begin.

Each of the schools also has a to-do list for the summer.

Cummings Valley School: Newly painted yellow lines to the classrooms. Exit arrows painted in the parking lot. Privacy fabric installed on the kindergarten play area fence. Septic maintenance. Resurfacing of the walking track.

Tompkins Elementary: Hand dryers installed in the bathrooms. Privacy fabric installed on the kindergarten play area fence. Kitchen repair and maintenance. Exterior paint. New roofing for rooms 11-22.

Golden Hills Elementary: New restroom partitions in the lower wing. HVAC/electrical upgrade in the lower wing. Asphalt seal and striping. Exterior trim will be painted. Carpeting replaced.

Jacobsen Middle School: HVAV electrical upgrade to 100 and 200 rooms. Coy Burnett fencing will be replaced and concrete repaired. Asphalt replaced, sealed and striped. New partitions in the girls' bathroom in 100 and 300 rooms. New roofing in the cafeteria, band room and kitchen.

Tehachapi High School: Warrior logo will be refreshed in the gymnasium. New asphalt seal and striping. Repair and replace restrooms (900). Resurface the tennis court.

TILA and Boys and Girls Club: Replace the gymnasium floor. Install automated bleachers. Install a playground. New roofing on Building A.

Other facilities to get some attention this summer will be the Transportation Yard and Fueling Station that will get some new concrete. The District Offices will finally have warm water in the restrooms.

Solar installation will begin in mid-July. This massive project will eventually equip all campuses with solar energy.

The TUSD Board of Trustees meets on the second Tuesday of the month at Wells Education Center located at 300 S. Robinson St., Tehachapi, at 5 p.m.