JACKSON SCHOOL PROJECT BLOOMS

JACKSON -- Construction of the $5.7 million Jackson Middle School is under way again after being delayed for nearly a month by inclement weather earlier this year.

Architect for the new school, John Dudley of Jackson, said Thursday Penzel Construction Co. resumed work on construction of the 93,570-square-foot building earlier this month.

Said Dudley, "The contractor had been working -- off and on -- during the winter months, paving the entrances to the school, and the school bus turn-around. But the bad weather in late January and much of February shut them down. As a result, they were a little behind schedule."

Dudley said work resumed in early March when concrete was poured for the footings for the school building. About 50 to 60 percent of the footings have been poured at this time.

He added, "They're now pouring the concrete floor slabs in the areas where there is no plumbing. At the same time plumbing is being installed in other areas that will not interfere with the pouring of the concrete floor slabs. The building is large enough so that they can both work in different areas at the same time."

Because of that, Dudley said the contractor is back on schedule again. He said, "All of the trades are now working. We've got a respectable pace going that should continue, if the weather cooperates.

"If everything keeps going the way it has the past two weeks, I would say we'll see the walls start going up for the classrooms in another 2-3 weeks."

Superintendent Wayne Maupin said a meeting between the architect, contractor and school administration is scheduled for April 26. Said Maupin, "At that time, we should have an updated construction schedule and a better estimated completion date."

Dudley said the contractor has 485 days to complete the school, which should be in late March or April 1995.

"But keep in mind, they have a long ways to go at this time, and there is always the unknown, such as delays due to weather," he added. "However, if we continue to have good working weather the rest of the year, the building schedule could be speeded up. But for now, we're looking at completing the building next spring."

The new middle school is going up on a 26-acre tract of land at the southeast corner of Broad Ridge and West Independence (Route D).

When it is completed next year, the middle school will accommodate 700-750 students. It will house the sixth grade now located at West Lane Elementary School, and the seventh grade now at the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

The middle school will relieve a serious crowding situation at the junior high school and a growing classroom congestion problem at the elementary school.

Because the low bid for the school came in under the original estimate, four additional classrooms were added to the building plan, for a total of 28 classrooms. In addition, the new school will have two science labs, a library, kitchen and cafeteria, industrial arts room, general music room, band room, vocal music room and gym with shower and locker facilities for boys and girls.

The middle school will also be one of the largest buildings in the Jackson School District. It will be 60 percent larger than the Orchard Elementary School that was completed several years ago.

The middle school is designed with the classrooms on the west side, facing Broad Ridge, in a horseshoe-shaped configuration that overlooks an inner courtyard.

The band and music rooms will be located at the east end of the building, away from the classroom area.

Construction of the middle school is financed with revenues from a $4.7 million bond issue approved in early 1992 by 76 percent of the voters. In addition, the district has allocated additional capital improvement funds from recent budgets to help pay for the school.

No increase in the school tax levy is needed to retire the bonds because the district did not allow its bonded indebtedness to drop to zero.