Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 27, 1994 TAG: 9408290045
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But the doors will be open - barely, in some schools. A few days ago, that seemed unlikely.
"Not everything will look spit and polished, but we're going to have the buildings in condition so they can be used," said Homer Duff, director of facilities and operations for the schools.
Contractors will be working this weekend to try to finish work on air-conditioning units, replacement windows, elevators, classroom additions and other renovations at about a dozen schools.
Custodians, principals, teachers, secretaries and bus drivers have worked long hours this week to clean up the classrooms and furniture to get them ready for opening day.
Even county School Board member Jerry Canada has pitched in by helping clean up Burlington Elementary and other schools in the Hollins district, where he lives.
Duff said the unfinished work will cause inconveniences for students in some schools. But the buildings are safe and have been inspected by the fire marshal, he said.
"The air conditioning may not be operating in some rooms or halls, but there will be windows that can be opened," Duff said. "Let's hope that there will be some cool weather in the next weeks."
Elevators are being installed in several schools for disabled students. But some won't be complete by Monday.
Work can continue at some schools during the school day without interfering with classes, Duff said, but other repairs will have to be done after the children leave for the day.
Duff has been alerting the School Board for several weeks that not all the construction might be complete by Monday.
All of the projects were bid with completion dates in late August, with the anticipation that school would open after Labor Day. But the School Board decided to move up the opening by 10 days after the state Board of Education permitted some school divisions to open early.
Chairman Frank Thomas said the board realized that the contractors would be hard-pressed to finish the projects before Labor Day, but he felt it was better to open schools early.
"I think the dirt, mess and inconvenience will be worth the wait," Thomas said. "I think that everyone will like what they get."
Construction and renovation projects have been under way this summer at Northside High School and several elementary schools, including Back Creek, Burlington, Cave Spring, Clearbrook, Roland E. Cook, Glen Cove, Glenvar, Herman L. Horn, Oak Grove, Mount Pleasant and Mountain View.
The county has 26 schools, including four high schools and four intermediate schools.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon said the contractors, school personnel and parents have made a team effort to ensure that the schools are ready to open.
"There are not enough superlatives to describe how everybody has worked together," Gordon said.
Duff said more work probably remains to be done at Burlington Elementary than any other school. Work still is under way throughout the building, installation of an elevator will not be finished by Monday and roofing work will continue after school opens.
by CNB