Monday, Sep. 29, 2008

Hanford High School graduate returns to help reshape Richland schools

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

Howard Rickard's work in architecture, engineering and construction management has taken him around the world.

But one of the most meaningful jobs of his career has been in his own backyard.

The 52-year-old spent the last three years overseeing the construction of three Richland schools and the renovation of two more as part of the district's largest-ever bond project.

Rickard, executive director of capital projects, went to school in Richland and was part of Hanford High School's first graduating class in 1974.

"That has made the project very fun, having that history behind it," he said. "That's one of the reasons I really wanted to do the job."

Now that nearly all the work is finished, Rickard is leaving the district. His last day is Tuesday.

"Howard did a wonderful job of keeping all the timelines going. ... (He) kept the building moving forward," said Todd Baddley, who was Hanford High's principal during its renovation and now is the district's executive director of student services.

The construction projects came in on time and on budget, and enough money was saved that extra capital work was able to be done.

The schools were paid for with a $77.8 million bond approved by voters in 2003, and matching dollars from the state. The total was about $120 million.

For the money, the district got the brand new Enterprise Middle School in West Richland and White Bluffs Elementary in southwest Richland. Enterprise opened in 2005 and White Bluffs held its first classes last school year.

The doors of Jason Lee Elementary's new building also opened last year. The aging school was replaced with a new two-story facility next to the old one on Van Giesen.

Richland and Hanford high schools both had extensive renovations.

Several factors -- including careful planning, teamwork with contractors and luck -- meant the district was able to save about $10 million throughout the projects, Rickard said.

Some of that is being used to renovate the auditorium at Richland High to create classroom and storage space for performing arts programs. Work at the school likely will be done by the summer.

Rickard did a good job of helping keep all the construction on schedule, officials said.

"He was a good resource for us, instrumental in getting the projects done," said Mike Hansen, principal of White Bluffs Elementary.

He and Baddley said Rickard acted as a bridge for them to contractors and regularly kept them updated on the progress of their schools during construction.

For Rickard, a licensed architect who's worked in the architecture, engineering and construction fields 30 years, the effort was worth it.

It's rewarding to see how the newly or renovated schools are better serving students, and how they're built to last for the future, he said.

He remembers watching Jason Lee see their new school for the first time. He was inspired by their happy reactions.

"That's the joy you get ... when you're through and people go in," he said. "That the great part."

He plans to do consulting work after leaving the district.

For more on the bond projects, go to www.rsd.edu/about/ bond-issue-projects.html.