The additions and renovations to three elementary schools for the Lake Travis Independent School District opened as scheduled in time for the Fall semester to begin.

The additions to the Lake Pointe Elementary, Lakeway Elementary, and Bee Caves Elementary schools were completed in July 2004 after only six months of work. A total of fifty one new classrooms were added as well as play grounds, parking lots, landscaping, and renovations to the existing school buildings. Construction crews had to overcome heavy rains, an abundance of groundwater, and a six week delay due to a shortage of metal studs.

Bob Hart, Lake Travis ISD's Assistant Superintendent noted, "Despite the rainiest winter in years, permitting challenges, working on overcroweded campuses while school was in session and the steel shortage, American Constructors, was able to meet our needs and deliver on their commitment."

Regardless of the impediments they encountered, the teamwork of the staff's of the three projects worked together to schedule material deliveries, subcontractor schedules and optimized resources by sharing.

Along with the Lake Travis Projects, three new campuses welcomed students when the Leander Independent School District began the 2004-2005 school year on August 17th.

Pleasant Hill Elementary, Deer Creek Elementary and Canyon Ridge Middle School celebrated grand opening ceremonies much to the pleasure of LISD administration, teachers, parents and most importantly of all, the students.

"We are just so excited to be in this magnificent building," Canyon Ridge Middle School Principal Susan Sullivan said.

Superintendent Tom Glenn stated in The Hill Country News, "Certainly our Capital Improvements staff has done a great job working with our architects (Tew Associates for the elementary schools and Fields & Associates for Canyon Ridge Middle School) and with our general contractor, American Constructors, in getting you three great schools on time" Glenn also stated, "Our architects and our general contractor, American Constructors, have shown a true dedication to designing and constructing the best possible buildings for your tax dollars."

Congratulations to all of the ACLP personnel who contributed to the successful completion of six more outstanding school projects.

We've moved, but only our SUITE number has changed.

Our new address is:
American Constructors
4330 South Mopac
Suite 230
Austin, TX 78735

Come by and see our new space!

To make sure your irrigation system is in top shape for the school year, here are some basic tips you can do to maintain your system:

• Repair or replace broken or missing rotor heads, spray heads, "bubblers" and drip emitters.
• Make sure all heads pop-up all of the way and fully retract when the water is turned off.
• Check for sprinklers blocked by grass, plants or other obstacles. If the spray is blocked, remove the obstacle or move the sprinkler head.
• Make sure sprinklers are vertical and flush with the soil grade. Soil should be tightly compacted around the sprinkler.
• Check for proper pressure. Water will stream out of the sprinkler instead of forming a spray if the pressure is too low or mist excessively if it is too high. Install a pressure-reducing valve or reduce flow through the valve.
• Clean or replace clogged nozzles and clean the sprinkler's trash screen, if it has one.
• Make sure all heads direct water to landscape and not to impervious surfaces such as pavement.

• Leander ISD - New Elementary #15
• Leander ISD - New Middle School #6

On June 5, 2004 American Constructors held its First Annual Charity Golf Tournament at The Golf Club at Star Ranch.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area was the recipient of a check for $10,000 thanks to the generosity of the one hundred golfers, the many sponsors and door prize donors, and American Constructors. The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America is "To inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens." Dave Martin, the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area brought four young men from the Capital Area club to assist with prize presentations and Dave gave a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the donation possible. For more information visit: Boys and Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all of our Sponsors and to everyone that participated. We couldn't have done it without you.

PLATINUM LEVEL
Ball Drilling Company
Capitol Aggregates
Panel Specialists, Inc. Interior Surface Systems
Slater Painting Co., Inc. (The Sherwin-Williams Company)
Wesley Crow Electric, Inc.
Willis of Texas

GOLD LEVEL
Baker Drywall Co. Inc.
Bell Glass & Mirror Co.
Boyd Tile & Stone
Construction Rent-A-Fence
Covert Chevrolet-Oldsmobile
Crocker Crane Rentals
Huckabee & Associates
Marek Brothers Systems, Inc.
McKinney Drilling Company
Shelton, Van Houten & Morrison, CPA's
Tremur Consulting Contractors

BRONZE LEVEL
BLGY, Inc.
PBS & J

We are looking forward to next year's charity tournament being even bigger and better.

For the fifth consecutive year American Constructors welcomed summer interns from a variety of colleges around the country. What better way could an engineering student learn practical applications of construction than by performing tasks themselves and by observing professionals practice their craft? American Constructors is committed to the professional development of its people and it starts before they even graduate from college.

Each of the eleven interns was paired with a mentor from American and spent the summer working and learning. They took part in as many tasks as possible including material quantity take-offs, surveying, forming and pouring concrete, painting, installing hardware, and other jobsite and office activities. We even had our first accounting intern.

All work and no play makes for a long summer. The interns naturally got to mix in play with work. Besides extracurricular activities on their own, as a group they participated in BBQ's, swim parties, miniature golf, and Blazer Lazer Tag.

These students will be able to take the practical knowledge they gained back to the classroom which will help make them a more rounded professional when they graduate and enter the workforce.