HART DISTRICT PROJECTS MILLIONS UNDER BUDGET.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS 

Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The Hart district's construction projects have come in nearly $4 million under budget, according to district officials.

Vanir Construction Management said it saved the Hart Union High School District $2.1 million by completing the projects ahead of schedule. Vanir's projects with the district include the gymnasium at Rancho Pico Junior High School and the ROTC building at Valencia.

Paul Rivas, Hart's director of facilities and modernization, said the district's three modernization projects would be coming in $1.8 million under budget.

Canyon High School will come in at least $300,000 under budget; Saugus High, at least $1 million under budget; and Arroyo Seco Junior High, at least $500,000 under budget, Rivas said. These projects are expected to be completed or nearly finished by the start of the 2008 school year.

Hart's chief operations officer, Rob Gapper, attributed the good news to the district's oversight.

"It's good management and good news," Gapper said.

Gapper said some of the savings might have to be spent on state-mandated documentation.

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