THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080298
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 68 lines
Hickory High School will have its Oct. 25 homecoming game at its new stadium, but without working restrooms or ticket booths and with a makeshift concession stand.
School officials last week criticized the contractors working on the school, saying that missed deadlines have resulted in a loss of trust.
School Board members and administrators have a lack of confidence in the latest completion dates given by contractors.
The $26.7 million-plus Hickory High School opened last month, but was only 85 percent complete.
School officials said last week that Hickory's ongoing construction will continue, even longer than expected, as the contractor needs more time to complete major portions of the building and surrounding areas.
Some already-behind-schedule areas, such as the gymnasium, are now due to be completed between Nov. 15 and Dec. 1. Last month's completion date was mid-October.
Board members have been disgruntled over the delays, but the latest, including the stadium not being completed for homecoming, sent them over the edge.
``I've had my concerns all along but I have legitimate concerns now,'' School Board member Jeffrey Rowland said at last week's board meeting.
``He did get the students in there on Sept. 3 but he seems to be taking a back seat on the work now,'' Rowland said, referring to building contractor A.D. Whittaker, who is handling construction.
Whittaker, whose business is based in Ashland, would not comment.
``Quite frankly, he won't give you any more information than the School Board did,'' office manager Anne Shawn said Friday.
Tom Cupitt, the school system spokesman, said, ``We're doing everything within the contract right now. . . . Everything that can be done is being done.''
Completion of the auditorium has been pushed back from mid- to late December to no later than Jan. 1, said Steven Gilbert, assistant superintendent for operations.
Gilbert said he would meet with the contractors last week for more definite dates but as of Monday, those deadlines hadn't changed.
``Who's to say (the contractor) will be more trustworthy?'' several board members asked at the board meeting.
Gilbert said: ``If you're asking me if what he says is trustworthy, I can't say that.''
Board member James Wheaton asked: ``What if we ask you if you believe him?''
Gilbert: ``The trust factor is thin now.''
Gilbert and Hickory principal Linda Byrd will meet next Monday to discuss options for the winter sports program; some teams would normally begin practice and use the gym in November.
One option being considered is busing the gymnastics team to a practice gym in Virginia Beach, another point that rankled board members.
``But we're discussing other options,'' Byrd assured them.
The next step for the district is to establish a date for the contractor to complete the work or pay so much per day for not fulfilling the contract.
``When are we going to be prepared to look him in the eye and say the meter is running?'' Wheaton asked.
Meanwhile, students, like Barbara Antis, will continue to ``dodge the workmen on the roof.''
``The stadium was supposed to be finished two weekends ago; we've had to have all of our home games at Great Bridge,'' said Antis, a junior at Hickory.
``I think it would boost school spirit if we could play in our own stadium. I do think there's a sense of disappointment.'' by CNB