District facilities director outlines summer projects, bigger investment at CES

Ryan Ehlinger, director of facilities, briefed the North Wasco County School District board on Aug. 21 about the facilities department’s summer work across multiple campuses. The presentation detailed routine summer cleaning and waxing, LED lighting replacements, playground shade installations, concrete repairs, a new chiller for the district IT building, major work tied to a seismic upgrade at Chenoweth Elementary School and preparations for an Aug. 29 opening of a new press box called the Hawk’s Nest.

Ehlinger described site‑specific projects: Colonel Wright received new handrails, repaired exterior concrete and a new access door for an under‑tunnel condensate pump; Dry Hollow had a new playground sunshade and LED classroom lighting; Dallas Middle School (where the meeting was held) had painted interiors and re‑striped basketball courts and parking lines; the high school had LED lighting and fresh waxed floors; Innovations Academy had restroom repairs, LED upgrades and a new chiller serving the district IT space. At Chenoweth Elementary, Griffin Construction completed seismic work that included a new reception area, cafeteria and kitchen flooring, updated gym lighting and a repaint of much of the building.

Ehlinger also praised the grounds team and local contractors — naming Les Schwab, Bishop, Chad Smith Excavating, A and L Construction, Hagee Electric and others — for volunteer and contracted help on projects and on the Hawk’s Nest press‑box project. The board asked staff to prepare a testimonial or formal thank‑you for Griffin Construction; Superintendent Carolyn Bernal and a board member volunteered to draft that note.

Board members thanked facilities and custodial staff for the work and noted the district buildings’ role as community resources this summer: several sites hosted Red Cross operations and community assistance. No formal board action was required.