Summers, when students and teachers are away, provide an opportunity for campus improvement projects, and Scottsdale Unified School District did not throw away its shot.

This year, SUSD has undertaken a variety of projects that make schools safer, more secure and more enjoyable for students and staff, a press release claims. As this summer comes to a close, so do several bond-funded campus improvement projects.

SUSD Facilities Director Dennis Roehler says these summer projects represent nearly $16 million of the $229 million 2016 voter-approved bond program. The projects replace outdated infrastructure that has surpassed its useful life, as well as make school campuses safer.

The security updates also promote social distancing. The summer project cost is in addition to the rebuilding projects currently underway at Cherokee and Hohokam elementary schools, also funded by the same bonds.

Further upgrades include security for 17 schools’ front offices; new curtains, rigging and lighting for 10 elementary and K-8 school stages; new roofs and gymnasium floors at two middle schools; electronic messaging marquees outside 16 SUSD schools; updated playground equipment at two campuses; two renovated school parking lots; air conditioning upgrades; and finishing the newly renovated Navajo Elementary School.

“Despite all of the challenges we’ve had to work through during the past few months, we feel that we have been able to accomplish a lot at our schools, adding to their security, operational capabilities, aesthetics and ability to communicate with their communities,” Mr. Roehler said in a prepared statement.

Below is a listing of projects that have been undertaken since April 2020:

Arcadia Learning Community:

• Arcadia High School — parking lot renovation, upgrades to HVAC mechanical systems, marquee replacement, exterior painting.
• Ingleside Middle School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, exterior painting.
• Echo Canyon School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, marquee replacement.
• Tavan Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, roof replacement, marquee replacement, stage curtains, rigging and lighting.

Chaparral Learning Community:

• Chaparral High School — upgrades to HVAC mechanical systems, softball practice field renovation.
• Cocopah Middle School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, gymnasium floor and partial roof replacement, marquee replacement.
• Copper Ridge School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, cafeteria partial roof replacement, marquee replacement.
• Cherokee Elementary School — continuation of new campus construction project.
• Cochise Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement.
• Sequoya Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, parking lot renovation with new student drop-off/pick-up lane, playground equipment replacement, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement.

Coronado Learning Community:

• •Coronado High School — upgrades to HVAC mechanical systems, auxiliary gym floor replacement, door hardware replacement, exterior painting.
• •Tonalea K-8 School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement.
• •Hohokam Elementary School — continuation of new campus construction project.
• •Yavapai Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, marquee replacement.

Desert Mountain Learning Community:

• Desert Mountain High School — air conditioning system upgrades, baseball field retaining wall replacement.
• Desert Canyon Middle School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, marquee replacement.
• Mountainside Middle School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, air conditioning upgrades, gymnasium floor and partial roof replacement, cafeteria roof replacement, minor upgrades to classroom building roofs, marquee replacement.
• Cheyenne Traditional School — stage curtains, rigging and lighting.
• Anasazi Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement.
• Desert Canyon Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement.
• Laguna Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement.
• Redfield Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, stage curtains, rigging and lighting, marquee replacement, exterior painting.

Saguaro Learning Community:

• Saguaro High School — upgrades to HVAC mechanical systems, Innovation Center construction project.
• Mohave Middle School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades, marquee replacement.
• Kiva Elementary School — architectural services for 2021 campus rebuild project.
• Navajo Elementary School — completion of renovation project undertaken as a result of an Aug. 2018 fire that forced a relocation for two years, new playground equipment and shade structures, new bus loop, parking lot expansion.
• Pueblo Elementary School — front office lobby renovation and security upgrades.

“We continue to be grateful to our community for providing the funding that permits us to offer students and teachers the best learning environments possible,” Mr. Roehler said.