Neither rain nor sleet nor snow kept construction workers away from Federal Way schools.

Federal Way school construction is on time and on budget. The construction schedule was threatened by one of the worst winters for construction the district has ever had.

Panther Lake and Vahalla elementary schools are still on schedule to open this fall, said Rod Leland, director of facilities.

“We had surprises,” Leland said. “The contractor has been strategic…creative in working through the bad weather.”

Both schools have about 75 percent of the exterior completed and 60 percent of the interiors done.

There are about 300 sheets of drawings for each project, and Leland said they are down to details on about half of those sheets.

Some things left to do include installing mechanical systems, plumbing, heating and drywall, along with painting.

The district is also working on several other schools.

Lakota Middle School recently awarded a bid for construction, which is expected to begin next month. Right now, the district and contractors are getting the permits in order, something that in the past would have potentially been a struggle.

“The permit process with the city has been very good,” Leland said. “Very collaborative. They’ve done a good job of refining their process to make it understandable.”

Leland said the city of Federal Way had a reputation six or seven years ago of being difficult on permits, but have since gathered information on how to improve the process..

“They really took the information to heart. They’ve vastly improved and deserve credit,” he said.

One of the things that Leland credits in keeping the projects flowing is the use of project managers — both from the district and from the construction crews. He also credits the contractual obligations that workers are held to.

“We are optimistic that we will stay on schedule as weather improves. We’ve done it when the weather was terrible,” he said.

The design process is about to start for Sunnycrest and Lakeland elementary schools. There will be about six months of design work, then 10 to 12 months of construction before those schools open in 2011.

Also opening in 2011 will be the new support services center, including a new transportation center, central kitchen and maintenance building.

All the construction projects target buildings that were built in the 1960s or earlier. They are part of the $149 million bond that voters approved in November 2006.