40-Wing Modernization Takes Off
Fencing around 40 wing

August 29, 2025

The 40-Wing of Hughson High School was built in 1965. With funds available from Measure B, the building is getting its long-awaited upgrade. By 2024, the roof and HVAC had reached their end‑of‑life, the restrooms were outdated and undersized, and the layout no longer met instructional needs.

For years, the stretch of classrooms has been a hodgepodge, with three classrooms and small office or storage spaces in the building, oddly configured, where students took Photo, Math, and special education classes. About 80 students used the 5,500 sq ft. building each day.

Last summer, in August 2024, a new roof and HVAC were installed, prior to the bond passing. The need was immediate, and Hughson Unified School District knew it was too important to wait.

At the start of the school year, Photography Teacher Jack Bland, Math Teacher Paul Michaelis, and Special Education Teacher Nicole Mayo moved their classes to Room 50, Room 8 and Room 25.

“Everyone has been understanding and recognizes we will have some short-term pain for a long-term gain,” Principal Loren Lighthall said. “The temporary bathrooms are actually nicer, thus the need for the upgrade. We do have one teacher without a dedicated classroom and a few others sharing space, but they are making it work.”

This month, demolition and the build-out began. Fences are placed, setting off the 40-wing with walkways for students to reach the Ag Shop and Fitness Center.

The interior was sealed off for asbestos abatement and reopened the last week of August.

This fall, restrooms will be rebuilt with new plumbing, tile finishes, fixtures, and accessibility upgrades. Carpet and paint will be selected and finalized.

And throughout the winter, the interior of the building will be reconfigured into five modern classrooms, featuring new walls, flooring, efficient lighting, larger windows, and updated fixtures.

With these changes, and exterior paint to follow in Summer 2026 during the completion of the other wings, the building and surrounding area will be safer and more accessible to all. “The concrete outside of building 40 is very uneven and has been a hazard,” Lighthall said. “And students will have more restroom facilities so they can get in/out quicker and back to class or spend time with their friends.”

Lighthall believes that with these upgrades, “Students will feel a sense of pride when their school on the outside matches all the amazing things going on inside the classes.”

New Makeover Complete in Hughson High School, Ella Webb Theater
New Theater Makeover

July 22, 2025

When the theater was built on the Hughson High School campus in 1991, its construction included elevated seating with industrial gray carpet, gray metallic stair treads and gray metal theater seats with burgundy cushions. With time and use, the cushions faded, the screws wobbled, and the carpet began to fray.

The space, named the Ella Webb Theater in 2022, was fast on the list of projects to be tackled with the funds now available from Measure B, a $46 million construction bond approved by Hughson voters in 2024.

The theater acts as one of the central spaces of Hughson High School. According to Brad Thompson, who retired in 2025 after 40 years of teaching drama and music, each production by the drama class welcomes more than 3000 people into those seats. The theater is used for high school assemblies, for classes, for guest speakers, for county music festivals, school board meetings, and district staff meetings. “It is thrilling to share the theater with so many people. Our theater is a jewel of the community. People from other schools come and see what we have and are envious of this beautiful facility. The school board, principal and superintendent have all been so supportive in making sure the facilities stay in great repair,” Thompson said.

The first phase of the makeover began on June 9 when American Seating began the removal of the original 264 seats. Andy Fontana, the district’s director of maintenance, operations and transportation, had his staff clean and polish the understructure until it looked brand new. No longer a dull, industrial gray, the treads shine as with a polish.

June 16 to 18, Turlock Flooring installed new carpet in the theater, and in the surround area, hallways and offices from July 8 to 9. Fontana’s staff returned to touch up the work until it was “absolutely beautiful,” one teacher said. The carpet is a warm, variegated gray and black.

New seating installation began on June 30. The seats, fully installed as of July 3, have black bases with fully stuffed, dark, warm gray cushions. The tone pairs well and harmonizes with the cream walls and laminate. The colors, although neutral, offer a bolder, more definite look in a well-used and well-loved space, while still keeping the show the main focus. “We added some gold accents in the carpet under the chairs on the decks, but for the most part, we kept it neutral for both aesthetic appeal and easy upkeep,” Fontana said.

Seeing the first project of many, Thompson reflected, “Brenda Smith, our superintendent and Andy Fontana, who has served so faithfully and diligently as head of maintenance, take that bond vote as a vote of trust. They are living up to the trust the community has placed in them and are making sure that every dollar is stretched to maximum use and that the funds are used wisely. They make a great team.”

The theater seating is the first project to be completed. There is much more to come. Planning stages are underway for several Measure B projects:

  • 30 Wing HVAC Replacement and 30 Wing Roof Replacement: Set to begin in early September 2025.
  • 40 Wing Phase 1 Modernization: Scheduled to start on August 4, 2025.
  • 30 Wing & 10 Wing Phase 2 Modernization: Planned for 2026.
  • New Ag Science Center: In the planning stages with an expected start in June 2026.
  • Athletic Facilities Upgrades: Set to begin December 26, 2026.
Hughson’s sells $9 million in bonds to fund first phase of high school construction project

March 28, 2025

The initial bond sales to fund the first phase of a multi-year renovation at Hughson High School have gone better than expected, Superintendent Brenda Smith said, meaning construction is on track to begin later this spring.

First up for upgrades are three classroom buildings – the 40 wing, the 30 wing and the 10 wing – plus the installation of new seating and carpet at the campus’ Ella Webb Theater. Phase 1 also includes new roofing, heating and air conditioning, as well as new blacktop and storm drainage improvements.

In total, the work is estimated to cost about $9 million. It will be paid for from the $46 million school construction bond Hughson voters passed in November.

“It’s super exciting for the community,” Smith said. “Hughson High has very old classrooms. Some are like when I went there 35 years ago.”

Work on the 40 wing – just west of the old gym – will begin in July and should be done by winter break. Three odd-shaped classrooms will be reworked to create five standard-size classrooms, Smith said. There will be new flooring, walls and paint. Bathrooms will receive new fixtures and paint, and stalls will be added.

The 30 wing just west of the campus office is second in line. Four classrooms will be modernized with new windows, flooring and exterior paint. Two other classrooms in the same wing already have been upgraded. Work should start next January and take three to six months, Smith said.

The 10 wing just east of the main office will be the final part of the first phase. There, 10 classrooms and the bathrooms will be modernized. Work is expected to start in the summer of 2026 and go into winter break.

During the work, the construction zones will be fenced off. Teachers and their students will temporarily relocate to other vacant classrooms.

Boyer Construction of Sonora is the general contractor for Phase 1. TPH Architects of Modesto is the designer.

Phase 2 of the overall project is expected to start in January 2026 and cost about $28 million. The highlights include the complete renovation of Husky Memorial Stadium and the construction of ag and science buildings that will include eight classrooms, two shops and bathrooms. That work should be done by the fall of 2027.

The $10 million third phase is projected to begin in July 2027 and take a year. It includes moving the district office and Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Department to district farm property to open up space for Ross Middle School and Hughson Elementary School. Also part of Phase 3 are new animal pens and bathrooms on farm property, additional student parking at the high school and upgraded lighting at the sports complex.

Smith said the initial bond sales have gone well. Because of the district’s strong financial position and consistent enrollment growth, Moody’s credit service upgraded Hughson’s bonds to “Aa2” from “Aa3.” That’s good news from Hughson’s landowners, who will pay slightly less on their property taxes to service the debt on the new bonds.

Smith called the improved bond rating a “significant achievement, particularly in today’s challenging environment where many California school districts are facing rating downgrades due to declining enrollment and financial pressures.”