Maintenance supervisor Jesse Melendez outlines summer construction, safety and access plans for Nyssa SD 26

Jesse Melendez, the district’s maintenance supervisor, told the Nyssa School District 26 board that crews have begun a second phase of summer projects intended to improve safety and fix long-standing drainage and surface issues.

Melendez said the middle-school parking lot is being rebuilt to address poor drainage and slippery winter conditions, and that striping work will continue into early July as contractors work through holidays and weekends. "If they see a construction, just stay away," Melendez told the board, urging staff, families and visitors to respect taped-off areas.

The update listed several projects the district plans to complete this summer: asbestos abatement and selective demolition in high-school science rooms, floor and gym resurfacing, turf and track resurfacing (scheduled to start June 15), playground asphalt repairs and warranty work, and the reconfiguration of a right-field area to create additional parking. Melendez also described plans to partition a "virtual classroom" space for remote teachers and to install a lean/tunnel for vans that can remain under construction after school starts.

On campus access and security, Melendez described a plan to install two barrier arms tied to the district’s existing fob readers to limit unauthorized vehicle access. "Uh right now, the lowest quote that we got is just under 50,000," he said, describing that figure as the combined quote for both gates. Board members pressed for clarity on first-responder access and day-to-day exceptions; Melendez said those vehicles would receive compatible fob stickers and that individual fobs could be deactivated if needed to prevent nonessential access.

Board members and staff also discussed routine but safety-sensitive issues such as after-school traffic during athletic events and teacher parking patterns that have created hazardous pedestrian crossings. Melendez recounted a near-miss involving a student returning from a practice and said the barrier-arm and parking changes aim to reduce those risks.

The district plans to notify the public about construction zones and closures; staff said an information message would go out this week (the board referenced a planned community update on the 11th and use of the reader board and Facebook). Melendez and the board emphasized that some work — such as the lean/tunnel and certain interior renovations — may continue after the first day of school, while clarifying that classrooms will remain usable despite phased construction.

The presentation concluded with board members thanking Melendez and asking staff to coordinate updated access rules and communication so that contractors can complete work on a tight summer schedule.