Creativity is key in the plan for Issaquah’s two biggest high schools for the coming year.

Both Skyline and Issaquah high schools spent the summer under construction, with varying degrees of success.

Trying to do construction while school is ongoing is much harder than “regular” construction, said Steve Crawford, director of Capital Projects.

“With all those kids and staff, you have to be extra careful,” he said. “It takes a lot more coordination.”

About half of Issaquah High has been stripped and left empty, while the other half has been converted into temporary classrooms, a lunchroom/physical education room, locker rooms and administration headquarters.

The north side of the campus, along with 13 portables set next to the school and up on the edge of Clark Elementary’s field, will serve as the school’s hub.

“The campus got half as small,” Spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said.

A divider wall will soon be built along the main corridor of the old school; the wall will serve as a noise and safety barrier while the south side of campus is demolished.

After the demo is complete, workers will construct a brand new, three-story building, which will house a majority of the classrooms. Once the new building is open and ready to go, then the school will “flip-flop,” and staff and students will move to the south side of campus while the construction moves to the north side, finishing up the project.

Issaquah High School was buzzing on Tuesday as crews began moving furniture back into the classrooms. Teachers were expected to get into their new rooms on Wednesday to start their beginning-of-the-year room preparation.

Students have been involved in the process as well, Crawford said. A group of students helped develop plans for club meetings as well as parking, which is impacted by the construction. Several ideas are being implemented, including guaranteed parking for carpools and using the church across the street for parking in exchange for community service.

One of the biggest changes for students and staff is that the main entrance and administrative offices will now be on the north side of campus, rather than in the center.

The administration offices will be in what was once classrooms near the new “main entrance.” Old Locker bays have been converted into locker rooms, and the original cafeteria for the school — which recently was used for three classrooms by using dividing walls — will once again be the lunchroom. Food will be prepared off site and brought in, and the cafeteria will be used for P.E. classes when it is not being used for lunch.

“The staff is enthusiastic about being creative,” Niegowski said.

One reason why the Issaquah High School construction has gone so well during the summer months is that officials at the city have been really quick in turn-around for permits and has worked well with the district, according to Crawford.

“Issaquah has been rolling right along,” Crawford said.

The same can’t be said for Skyline High School, where a stop work order from the city of Sammamish has stalled construction.

The city placed the stop work order in July after the contractor “jumped the gun,” district officials said.

Several residents who live near Skyline had called Sammamish, relaying concerns that significant trees were being taken down. In addition to the clearing, several portables were brought onto the site, also without permits. The portable issues have since been resolved, and district administrators hope to get the remaining permits — including the building permit — taken care of in the next few weeks.

The school will be ready for students – for the most part. Portables were situated and moved into this week. However, the parking lot will not be ready for the first day of school, even the first week or two, depending on weather.

Skyline officials are sending out information to staff, students and parents, keeping them updated on the parking situation, and Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church and the district are working out a parking agreement in the interim.

Another change to the getting to school dilemma is that there are new locations for bus and parent drop offs.

“There (are) changes in traffic,” Niegowski said. “But they’ll adjust.”