ELY – Construction workers continue to put in six-day work weeks on the job site at the $21.5 million Ely school building renovation project. Following a recommendation by school administrators, the school board here last week agreed to push back the start of the 2022-23 school year to Monday, Sept. 12 to get the campus ready for students.
Administrators are dealing with a double-edged sword of having the school grounds completed and parking lots paved to receive staff and students, and having the classrooms and hallways cleaned and ready for learning.
Superintendent John Klarich, citing a too-tight deadline for starting school on Sept. 6, convinced school board members to push the start of school back one week. Any delays, particularly inclement weather that would prevent the parking lot paving completion, could still make for a messy start, not to mention unsafe conditions for the beginning of the school year.
Nearly $300,000 worth of rock blasting is now completed and the water and sewer infrastructure is installed. Earth movers were working this week in the front of the Washington and Memorial buildings, now connected by a new building that will house a secured entrance, district and school offices, media center, additional gymnasium, cafeteria and kitchen and music and industrial technology classrooms, to construct the parking lots and school bus drop-off loops.
The north side of the campus looks barren as most of the trees and foliage were removed to make room for the expanded traffic loops and drop-off areas. Paving will commence as soon as the curbs and gutters are installed.