CONSTRUCTION DELAYS PUSH BACK FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

DEXTER -- The Richland School District Board of Directors Thursday night made the delay of the beginning of school official. As expected, it set the first day of classes at Sept. 7.

Supt. Carrell Odom said the delay is because of unanticipated difficulties in the construction project.

Odom said the current plan is to move everything back three weeks to the end of the year.

Odom suggested to the board it should look into the possibility of taking a day here or there off the days students are scheduled to be out of class.

Odom said there is a good possibility the board could make up a week by cutting holidays short.

"We could do such things as take some (days) at Christmas time or other holidays," Odom said. "We could probably pull a week off."

Odom added if the school has a problem with bad weather this year, the days could add up and would have to be tacked on at the end of the year.

He said the schools could be in session far into June.

Odom asked board members to get comments from the community on how the days should be added before it takes action.

"There are some things we can do to make adjustments," Odom said. "There is going to be some inconvieneces and it is regretful."

Odom added the delay will be a challenge, but he believes it is manageable.

Odom said, "Ready or not, we have to go (on Sept. 7)."

He said there is still quite a bit of work to be done on the renovation project.

He said the sides of the roof have not been tied down, the old guttering has to come off and there is still a lot of work to be done.