FELLSMERE — The recent rain has slowed construction at Fellsmere Elementary but it hasn’t stopped work from getting done, a school official said. Instead, work has just been redirected until the ground can dry out a bit.
“We have not halted,” said School District Director of Facilities Scott Sanders.
However, if the weather continues to be rainy, officials will have to come up with a Plan B in order to have the school ready for the first day of the 2013-14 school year, which is Aug. 20.
“We have some options,” Sanders said, explaining that he plans to meet with the contractors on Wednesday to come up with some contingency plans before they’re needed.
“We’re not in panic mode,” he said.
Aside from the recent slow-down due to bad weather, construction on the first phase of the expansion and renovation of Fellsmere Elementary has gone off without a hitch, according to Sanders.
Up until now, the contractors have been running ahead of schedule, which is why they have a bit of breathing room given the rainy weather, he said.
The Indian River County School Board approved approximately $9 million for the two-phase project, which will help to better accommodate the school’s growing population as well as modernize the approximately 30-year-old facility.
The $2.67 million first phase was awarded to the Pirtle Construction Company. The company has been tasked with preparing the campus, located on N. Cypress Street, for the construction work, including demolishing the existing cafeteria, building a temporary kitchen and dining facility, and handling utilities.
The company has demolished the old cafeteria and will have the temporary cafeteria and kitchen up and running by the time school starts. Sanders said the equipment has been delivered and just needs to be installed.
The school is also getting an upgraded phone system and other such improvements along with a sprinkler system in the Administration and 700 wing.
Pirtle still needs to get the parking lot and transportation loop done, which was put on hold because of the inclement weather.
“Buses roll and school’s open regardless” of whether or not the work is done, Sanders said.
The company is also expected to run the utilities underground and relocate the playground equipment, making room for the two-story 16-classroom building that is part of the $6.1 million Phase 2 project.
The second phase of the school project includes building more permanent classroom space as well as reworking the existing administrative buildings to make them more space efficient.
Sanders said the second phase of construction will take place while school is in session. The construction area will be double-fenced for student safety.
Fellsmere Elementary, built in the early 1980s, was constructed to handle approximately 450 students.
Between the Class Size Amendment restricting the number of students allowed in each classroom and the growth of the town over the last couple decades, the student population has outgrown the building.
As it is, there are more than 700 students attending Fellsmere Elementary and the entire second grade has been housed in portable classrooms.
