Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Jennings Elementary roof is exposed boards while more pounding and whirring comes from Colfax Junior-Senior High School with lifts and other Wellens Farwell Construction equipment parked around the buildings.
Late into the second month of summer, full-on construction at Colfax schools is on a timeline, as described by District Superintendent Jerry Pugh.
“Construction is progressing,” Pugh told the school board Monday night. “The library, art room and choir room are ready for primer.”
He noted work on the science lab was ahead of schedule.
“I think we’re gonna have a functioning science lab,” he said of the start of the school year.
The superintendent added that he had heard parent concerns about working sprinklers and fire alarms.
“No child will enter that building without those systems up and going,” Pugh said.
School for 2019-20 starts Sept. 9, after the Palouse Empire Fair, on the district’s revised schedule for construction.
“The contractor is picking up the pace,” Pugh said. “We will be coming Sept. 9.”
All together, the summer construction schedule includes the Jennings re-roofing and part II of phase one at the junior-senior high school.
This means demolition work at the cafeteria, the front part of the office, the bathrooms and three classrooms downstairs. Also, continued work in the library, art room, choir room and auditorium.
In September, students are expected to return to a revised, completed junior-senior high cafeteria, new STEM laboratory and community room to be used for public meetings, etc., middle school commons, library, art room, band room, choir room, reception area and office.
The auditorium is expected to be ready for use in November.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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