Area contractors were praised recently for completing a media center expansion at Halverson Elementary School six weeks ahead of schedule.

Monday, September 13, 1999

Area contractors were praised recently for completing a media center expansion at Halverson Elementary School six weeks ahead of schedule.

Addressing the school board, district construction manager Todd Christopherson said RCR Construction, Interstate Electric and Jim and Dudes Plumbing and Heating deserve credit for the &uot;superior&uot; construction quality and schedule.

&uot;We had a very good set of contractors,&uot; said Christopherson, president of AMCON CM, hired by the district to oversee the construction. &uot;It’s nearly complete and six weeks ahead of schedule.&uot;

Christopherson also provided the board with an update of all of the district’s construction projects.

Because of wet weather this summer the new high school is a &uot;few&uot; weeks behind schedule.

&uot;Other than that, everything is going as planned,&uot; he said. &uot;Fortunately enough, we’re now working in enclosed buildings.&uot;

When it rains, contractors are able to continue working inside two now enclosed classroom buildings. A November goal is also set to enclose each wing.

&uot;We’re probably going to wait to pour curb and gutter until next fall, so we don’t tear everthing up,&uot; added Bruce Olson, district facilities and transportation manager.

The high school is set to open sometime in the fall of 2000.

Improvements to Hawthorne Elementary School are also nearing completion, Christopherson said.

&uot;We went through Hawthorne,&uot; he said of a school board tour. &uot;The wood gym floor was completed last year. The elevator is nearly done. The handicap lift is also in and operational.&uot;

At Southwest Junior High School, construction is behind schedule because of delays in receiving casework, or wood structures from the manufacturer.

But Christopherson said contractors are working after school and not disrupting classes.

He anticipated a completion date of this week for inside improvements, including a media center.

&uot;Unfortunately, Southwest is not going quite as well in terms of the schedule,&uot; Christopherson said. &uot;But the project looks really nice. It should be done next week.&uot;

Replacement of exterior panels will take a couple of months, he added.

In other action, the board:

* Renewed the district’s membership in the Minnesota State High School League for $1,800.

* Approved a contract with Misty Nelson for $15 an hour for her services as an interpreter for the hearing impaired.

* Approved a contract with Mike Schoepf for $13,000 for his services as School-To-Work coordinator this year.

It’s anticipated that 20 hours of service will be required each week.