The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met Monday to discuss status of the new high school construction project.
Gary Jackson and Bevan Brawner, of Hight Jackson Assoc., addressed construction issues that may possibly delay an early January occupation of the high school facilities.
They indicated several systems are incomplete.
Weather is also a concern for the exterior.
The faculty/staff parking area to the NE of the building still requires pavement.
All other parking areas have been paved and striped.
Topsoil as ground cover was discussed as the only current option.
Mud and weather would pose an obvious concern.
They indicated a priority on completing the academic wings first.
The A and B wings of the second floor are nearing completion.
The H wing (fine arts) still requires additional work before completion.
They indicated the commons area is approximately two weeks from completion.
The kitchen facilities were stated to be 75% complete.
Several unforeseen factory problems with mechanical equipment were also addressed.
Jackson and Brawner assured the board that the problems are not uncommon.
They stated, “…Three to six weeks is an average to get the bugs worked out.”
Discussion was raised about occupying the building at the end of January.
Occupying the facility after spring break was also discussed.
The goal for moving to the new facility on River Street in early January is to allow ample reconstruction time within the existing high school building on Main Street.
The existing high school building on Main Street will become the junior high school.
It will house seventh and eighth grade students and faculty.
The board also reviewed construction plans for the existing high school facility.
It included removing several classroom walls to make room for a 255-seat lunchroom where the existing lunchroom is.
This portion of the building will also house a renewed cafeteria food service area. Additional walls will also be removed upstairs to enlarge the choir room.
Concerns over replacing heating and air conditioning units were raised.
They discussed security updates to the entryways.
New doors with security features will be installed at the east and west entrances.
Three to four months estimated time is needed to complete reconstruction at the Main Street facility.
The board voted to approve change order #11 (regarding the high school general construction) as presented.
Approval of change order #1 (regarding kitchen equipment supply and installation for the new high school) also passed.
The board thanked Hight Jackson Assoc. for the excellent work they are doing.
Future construction at the River Street site includes a new technical center to the south of the staff parking lot.
It’s suggested construction would involve two phases.
The first phase would be a 38,200-square-foot building connected to the high school with a covered walkway.
This would allow most of the Carthage Technical Center to move to the new location. The completion of phase two would allow the automotive and machine repair labs as well as other labs and shop classes room at River Street facility.
The estimated construction cost of the new technical center was a $5.3 million project.
Construction could begin as early as May first 2009 on this building.
In other news regarding the relocation of students and faculty, the current junior high building on Centennial Street will be renamed.
It will house the fifth and sixth grade students and faculty combined from the five elementary schools.
Carthage Middle School was approved as the official name of this facility.
