USD 475 Chief Operations Officer, David Wild, said Friday that the recent cold spell is not having a significant impact on the overall construction timeline for the new Junction City High School but is requiring a change in priorities on the path.
Cody Simon, General Superintended with Hutton Construction, updated District personnel this week explaining that the cold is preventing the pulling of wire in Zone 2, the Fine Arts area, as well as drywall finishing. Hutton also suspended rooftop work for safety reasons.
The crews continue to hang drywall while also applying finishes in heated Zone 1 academic areas. Work on masonry walls is also stalled and will be resumed after warmer temperatures return. Zone 1 flooring is being placed and covered for protection. District partner ABM is planning for final construction cleanup in the academic areas within the next four weeks.
High school administrators were briefed and given written guidance for preparing the relocation of staff, equipment and furnishings. The plan calls for an April start with a two week surge period when school is out in mid-June.
Plans for Munson Road improvements were adopted by the new County Commission and school District last week. Completion of that project is scheduled for the summer of 2021.
Wild noted that Allen Dinkel, Junction City Manager, recognized a developing urgency for safe site access and pushed ahead with development of Blue Jay Way north to Rucker Road. Wild states that Dinkel expressed concern for ensuring at least one eastern point of access to the new school as the Kansas Department of Transportation continues to work on development of a K-18 roundabout.
Wild concluded that the community can take satisfaction in knowing that the City, County and District are coming together in order to achieve a common objective of opening a new Junction City High School for the 2021-2022 academic year.