School projects showing progress

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Construction workers employed by Evans Contracting trudged on despite damp conditions at school construction sites in West Oneida and Robbins earlier this week.

With excavation work long since completed at the Robbins Elementary School site and nearly complete at Burchfield Elementary, weather-related disruptions may prove less likely going forward, as contractors work to complete both schools before the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

Scott County Director of Schools Sharon Wilson informed the Board of Education at its Thursday night meeting that the first phase of the Robbins project is more than 30% complete and could be under roof “by the end of the month,” while the Burchfield project is nearly 20% complete.

Phase one at Robbins includes work that can be completed before classes dismiss for summer break next May. At that point, part of the existing structure—the western side and oldest part of the current school, including the gymnasium and several classrooms—will be demolished to make way for the project’s completion.

At Burchfield, foundations were poured earlier this month, and walls began going up on a portion of the new building last week. None of the existing structure will be demolished at Burchfield, though part of it will be transformed for different uses before the project’s completion.

Wilson said earlier this month that the Robbins project is on schedule. However, a wetland issue and inclement weather earlier in the fall helped put the Burchfield project behind schedule.

“At my last meeting with the contractors and architect, both indicated that they are still aiming for the original completion date of Aug. 1, 2010,” Wilson said.

“We are very excited about these projects and look forward to moving our students and staff into new facilities next year, particularly at Burchfield where overcrowded conditions continue to worsen.”