The construction around campus started last year with renovations to first floor restrooms, the girls’ locker room, and the agriculture facility. New construction includes additions onto the front of the building which has resulted in the entire front grounds to be blocked off.

“We are in the first phase of construction,” Principal Courtney Acosta said. “We’ve been planning this for three years.”

Construction has begun to expand the fine arts wing.

“Band, orchestra, and choir are all fairly large programs at McNeil, and they’re all crammed into one narrow hall,” senior Mia Vargas said. “I think a larger fine arts wing would be incredibly beneficial.”

The main building will be expanded into the front parking lot to make a wing for special education classrooms that will include rounded corners so visually impaired students can walk to their classes easier.

“The facilities we have now don’t meet our student’s potential,” Acosta said.

Due to the construction, buses have been arriving late and teachers can no longer park in the front, making the back parking lot crowded.

“The traffic is delaying what time I usually get to school,” junior Faith Nguyen said.

Principal Acosta has been monitoring the traffic every morning and afternoon.

“We are trying to be as flexible as we can,” Acosta said.