Local

New school on schedule

Bad weather hampers work

By ANDIE LEATHERMAN, LTN Staff Writer

Jan. 30, 2002 - Construction is behind schedule by one week at Lincoln’s newest school but officials say it will still open August, 2003.

Bob Sebire of M.B. Kahn, the school’s construction management firm, met with school board building and site committee members Monday afternoon. Work on the footings was slated to begin last week but was delayed due to rain.

“If we get decent weather the next three months, we’re in good shape,” Sebire said.

Most of the building’s walls are pre-cast concrete which will speed up the construction process, said Associate Superintendent Ed Hatley.

Officials have decided to let nature wear down a rock facing instead of paying $400,000 for grading.

“The longer we wait the less expensive it will be,” Sebire said.

Several cycles of ground freeze and thawing should break up the rocky dirt.

“I see no reason to spend the $400,000,” Hatley said.

Wet weather has put West Lincoln’s renovation schedule behind by one and one half weeks, Sebire told board members. The project still will be complete by the time students return to school in the fall, he said.

Officials hope to have West’s sewage contract awarded by April and completed over the summer.

“We’re behind now but in good shape overall,” Sebire said.

Construction costs at the county’s newest elementary school, located on St. James Church Road, are over budget, according to Sebire.

“We don’t anticipate it will be that much,” Hatley said.

Officials had originally hoped to share the cost of water and sewer with developer David Clark, but now say the school district will pick up the whole tab for the pump station and water line to the road.

The new high school, elementary school, construction and renovation at West Lincoln High are funded by a $36 million bond voters approved in 2000.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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