South Central Board Gets Update on Building Projects

Work on the South Central Elementary School addition continues to move forward, while the South Central High School addition and renovation remains on hold awaiting further work on state grant funding. South Central board members were updated on progress at this week's meeting.

School Superintendent Kerry Herdes says they are still playing the waiting game.

"Kind of trying to buy as much time as we possibly can. Tonight, Poettker's, our construction manager is here talking about re-doing the timeline for the High School. So that we can see just how far we can go. How much time can we buy and let slip away from us, so that we can actually get it done for school when its supposed to be there to start that school year."

The Capital Development Board has delayed the funding for the additions to the new building in the midst of the on-going budget issues in Springfield. However, Herdes says that there is a bill in the works sponsored by State Representative John Cavaletto, which is urging the Governor to continue to fund capital development projects that are already underway. House Bill 4232 is in circulation to attempt to help the projects that have already began. One piece of good news that the board got came from the Construction Manager on the project. Jon Carroll of Poettker Construction shed some light on where the project stood on progress with the High School and says that the Elementary School addition is still on schedule to be finished on time this year.

"Right now, we are still trying to do as much contract administration and pre-construction as we can with the funds that we do have. Adjust the schedule and try to forecast some possible start dates and things like that for the owner. The Elementary is on schedule. That's on-track to be finished late September, early October. Really right now we're on track there so there's no concerns."

Carroll also says that he does not see any delays coming even though the funding has been stopped. Project Architect from EWR Associates Steve Downen is optimistic that the CDB will come up with the money quick enough to allow the high school project to remain on schedule for completion in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year. However, there could be delays if the funding situation is not ironed out in the next month.

In personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of Derrick Jones as Middle School Language Arts teacher and Lynn Smith as the Middle School Web tech and the Beta Sponsor.