Welcome Back Gervais School District!
This summer marked a major leap forward for the Gervais School District as bond-funded construction projects moved from planning to visible progress across all campuses. Backed by community support from the 2024 Bond Measure and an OSCIM matching grant, the District launched its first major phase of work with a clear focus: safety, quality, and student-centered design.
Groundwork Laid, Construction Underway
In the month of June, Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company (KNCC) mobilized crews across the district. A secured staging area was established in the Gervais Middle School parking lot, serving as the project’s central hub. While this impacted some parking access, updated maps and safe navigation routes ensured a smooth transition for families and staff.
Behind the scenes, site surveying and geotechnical testing wrapped up, revealing soft soil conditions that were addressed through specialized foundation design, helping keep the project on budget and on schedule. Meanwhile, the roofing replacement project kicked off at both Gervais Elementary and Gervais High School. Thanks to smart planning, demolition and new installations progressed swiftly, with the elementary roof even finishing ahead of schedule.
Since fall 2024, Arcadis Architecture has led a deeply collaborative design process across all campuses, bringing students, educators, and community members into the fold. These sessions helped shape learning spaces that are modern, accessible, and tailored to the needs of Gervais learners. Final documents for the middle school were issued this summer, while high school and elementary plans are on track for completion this winter.
Visible Improvements Across Campuses
By August, the following key milestones had been reached:
Elementary School
At Gervais Elementary School, crews completed both the roofing and exterior improvements, giving the building a refreshed, weather-resistant envelope just in time for the new school year. Inside, upgraded ceilings and lighting were installed, creating brighter environments for students and staff alike. With this round of work complete, the elementary now enters the “punch list” phase, where final details are checked off until next summer’s construction cycle.
Middle School
At Gervais Middle School, preparations for major construction ramped up behind the scenes. Subcontractor bids were received and reviewed in August, setting the stage for early grading and utility work beginning in mid-September.
These initial steps will lay the foundation, literally and figuratively, for the upcoming build of the brand-new permanent learning facility.
High School
Over at Gervais High School, roofing work wrapped up on schedule, with sheet metal finishing completed by the end of August. Like the elementary campus, the high school has now transitioned into its punch list phase.
With the heavy lifting done for the year, the site will begin demobilizing, making way for students to enjoy the refreshed spaces while crews prepare for the next phase of work in summer 2026.
Design with a Purpose
Creative problem-solving was also on display with the high school weight room. Instead of building a new space, the district repurposed an existing facility, relocating maintenance operations to make room for a fully renovated weight training area, complete with accessible restrooms and improved functionality for student-athletes.
In early September, the Gervais School District came together to mark two exciting events that celebrated progress, community spirit, and a shared vision for the future.
Groundbreaking Ceremony – Middle School Addition
On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the community gathered at Gervais Middle School for a groundbreaking ceremony. The event brought together students, families, staff, school board members, and members of the Bond Advisory Committee to celebrate the official start of construction on the middle school addition.
Currently, Gervais Middle School operates out of two portable buildings. Students must walk next door to the high school to access the cafeteria, and the open layout of the site presents ongoing safety concerns.
The new middle school building will address these challenges by offering:
A secure, enclosed building design
New classrooms and dedicated science labs
An on-site cafeteria and kitchen
A modern library and flexible learning spaces
Superintendent Dandy Stevens delivered opening remarks highlighting the community’s role in bringing this long-awaited vision to life. Attendees were invited to grab gold shovels, snap photos, and symbolically break ground, marking a major step forward in creating a safer, more supportive environment for Gervais middle school students.
Ribbon-Cutting Celebration – Athletic Field
Just two days later, on September 12, the district hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration at the newly renovated athletic field. One of the most exciting developments this summer has been the transformation of Gervais’s athletic fields, a project made possible not through bond funding, but through powerful community partnerships and creative financing.
Thanks to generous support from the Community Sports Development Council (CSDC) and funding from Frontier Charter Academy sponsorship revenues, major upgrades are underway that will benefit every student, athlete, and visitor who steps onto our fields.
The event welcomed over 400 attendees, who enjoyed hot dogs, chips, and water courtesy of Data Vision.
Celebrating Community Milestones
Superintendent Stevens, board members, and student leaders gave short speeches before the ribbon was officially cut. The celebration wrapped with sophomore football player Josh Saalfeld singing the national anthem, setting the stage for a spirited home game and a season full of pride.
K&E Excavating broke ground in early June, and since then, the following improvements have made swift progress:
Turf installation on the football and softball fields
Stadium lighting upgrades for safer, brighter evening games
New football goalposts
Resurfacing of the soccer fields, fixing rodent-related hazards with clean soil
Water savings of roughly 97,000 gallons per week during dry months
The result? A project that brings massive student and community benefit, without impacting the bond budget.
Bond Advisory Committee Reflects on Strong Start
During the recent Bond Advisory Committee meeting, members received detailed updates on Gervais School District’s construction, design, and overall project progress from Robert Frazier of Kirby Nagelhout Construction, Rebecca Stuecker of Arcadis Architecture, District Business Manager Caryn Davis, and Scott Rose, project manager with R&C Management.
The presentation highlighted the scope of work underway, progress toward budget goals, and key timeline milestones, reflecting the district’s success in completing the first summer of projects.
Committee members expressed confidence and appreciation for the project team’s leadership and performance. Vice Chair Bob Zieliski summed up the group’s sentiment, stating, “This is a very well-managed project; we feel fortunate to have each of you leading it.”
Committee member Afanasy Burkoff emphasized the importance of long-term quality, adding, “As long as you don’t cut corners and complete projects to last, this community will be behind you.” Chair Teixeira echoed both comments, affirming broad support.
Overall, the committee praised the district’s progress and reaffirmed their enthusiasm for how bond funds are being used to deliver on promises made to the Gervais community.