Construction recently kicked off on the Ripon High Bathrooms / Bleachers Reconstruction Project.

Heavy rains a few weeks ago did put a damper on the work.

"It seems anytime Ripon Unified starts a project, we're hit by huge rainstorms," said RUSD Director of Facilities, Operations & Safety Services Andy Strickland at Monday's school board meeting.

The work at the time was the installation of the new restrooms' sewage system to the entrance structure of Stouffer Field. Water, which had filled the trenches, was eventually pumped out and filled.

The other part of the plan includes the visitors' bleachers. That was demolished and cleared, along with the old ticket booth, last month.

"Right now, there are no bleachers," said Strickland, indicating that the east end of the Ripon High stadium is cleared while awaiting the construction of the new bleachers.

CT Brayton & Sons is spearheading this final phase of the stadium renovations that began as a grass-root effort by the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation in 2007.

The Escalon-based contractors were awarded the construction service agreement "not to exceed $1.2 million." 

In addition, Strickland and his crew completed the installation of the new electronic marquee in the front of Ripon Elementary School. He credited the school's Principal Dana Phelps and the Parent Faculty Club for "getting that together