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All’s ‘go’ at one new school; slow, another
By Kathi Keys
Asheboro Courier-Tribune Staff assignments will be delivered on Thursday for the new Providence Grove High School, signaling another step toward its opening in August. But, new Wheatmore High School may not be ready for students and staff by its original August 2009 opening. The contractors’ completion is now set for the end of July 2009, giving school officials a three-week turnaround to ready the facility for students and staff. Eastern Randolph and Randleman high school teachers will know their 2008-09 school year assignments — whether they’re remaining at their respective schools or being reassigned to Providence Grove — Thursday morning. Randolph Schools Superintendent Donald Andrews is scheduled to deliver letters of assignment at 7:30 a.m. at Eastern Randolph and at 10:30 a.m. at Randleman high schools. “When they get back, we’ll set up department meetings to talk to the staff about the 2008-09 school year,” PGHS Principal Rick Dawes told the Randolph County Board of Education at its Monday night regular meeting. Dawes also reported that the new school’s athletic boosters were scheduled to meet Tuesday night and band boosters on April 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Northeastern Randolph Middle School media center. He said students from the five schools impacted by the new high school’s opening are voting this week on logos for Providence Grove. The school, located on Mack Lineberry Road, off N.C. 22, Climax, will relieve overcrowding at Eastern Randolph and Randleman high schools. Middle school lines were aligned with each high school so that Randleman Middle students attend Randleman High; NERMS students, Providence Grove, and Southeastern Randolph Middle students, Eastern Randolph. Marty Trotter, assistant superintendent of operations, reported on the work now being done at PGHS including installation of the gym floor for which the school logo is needed. He said two crews are working on completion of window installation and the football field bleachers are being installed. He also reported that some steel work is under way at the Wheatmore construction site, however, “even more rock” has been found in a parking lot area and more could be found. “If all goes well, it will be the end of July,” Trotter said about completion. “A wet season will push it back more.” He told board members that he’s obtaining information from other school systems about the opening of high schools when they’re not ready by the start of the school year. The alternative is to delay opening the high school, which will relieve overcrowding at Trinity High, until semester break in January 2010 or waiting until the following school year, 2010-11, to open. “We’ve been close before, but we’ve decided against doing it in mid-year,” noted Board Chair LaVerne Williams. She pointed out that the opening of Uwharrie Middle School was delayed until the following school year even though it was completed mid-year. The extra cost related to removal of rock being found is being paid for by the contractor and is not part of the school construction contract. “The burden is back on the contractor. I hate it for them.” Trotter also said, about the initial soil testing completed on the site, “The borings looked good. We knew there was rock down hill (from the actual school site). “They’re blasting big time.”
Posted by: North Carolina
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