BUILDING PROJECTS ARE ON SCHEDULE

JACKSON -- It's been nearly a year since a $7.8 million bond issue was approved by Jackson voters. Now the expansion and improvements for educational facilities in the district are continuing.

The building of the new South Elementary School off Highway 25 toward Gordonville is off and running.

Fred Jones, assistant superintendent of the Jackson Schools, said the groundwork for the new building is being completed.

"The site exaction is being completed at this time," he said. "We hope to start construction as soon."

Soil compaction tests and borings to test for possible rock beneath the soil must be completed before construction can begin.

The school, which is set for completion in the summer of 1998, will be the size of Orchard Elementary School and will house grades K - 5. There will be three classrooms per each grade level with a capacity of 25 students per room.

Jones said the new facility will have art, music, computer lab, gym, special education and gifted rooms. An early childhood education classroom will also be included.

North Elementary School, off Highway W near Fruitland, is nearing completion of its improvements for the 1997 school year.

Seven new classrooms have been added to the school. Other existing rooms, including the library and cafeteria, have been renovated.

"It is a complete renovation," said Jones. "The interior work is being done at this time."

In addition to the new classrooms and room renovations, resurfacing of the playground area and new sidewalks is nearing completion.

Students who attend Jackson High School in the fall of 1998 will find eight new math and science rooms ready for use.

Construction of the new high school facilities is underway and Jones said walls for the new math and science building are going up now.

"The new facility is on schedule," he said. "This is a major addition." He said the new two-story building, which will be attached to the high school's Building A, will also contain technology labs and the high school's main offices.

Madison Street from Missouri to Russell was permanently closed to make room for high school addition.