CONSTRUCTION ON DELTA SCHOOL ADDITION IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

DELTA -- Despite the loss of a week of rain in December and a week of snow and sub-zero weather in January, construction of an $805,000 addition to the Lowell Jones building at Delta High School is slightly ahead of schedule, Delta School Superintendent Larry Beshears said Wednesday.

General contractor for the project is Brown Construction Co. of Dexter.

"Brown really has done a great job in keeping the work under way in some adverse weather conditions," said Beshears. "After it snowed last month, they came out on a Friday afternoon to clear away the snow so they could get back to work on Monday."

Beshears said the concrete floor pad with plumbing and electrical fixtures for the one-story 19,900-square-foot addition is complete, and construction of the walls is under way.

Beshears said: "The west and north walls are complete, and the east wall is currently under construction. The contractor has enclosed the work area in plastic and has a space heater so the work can continue in cold, wet weather."

Beshears said steel posts and roof beams have arrived and will be going up soon.

Construction of the addition began in early November. The contract specifies that the building be completed in 300 days.

"If there are no unexpected delays, we expect to move into the building during the summer and have it ready for use this fall," the superintendent said. When the addition is completed the old building will be torn down.

Construction of the addition is being financed by a $1.6 million bond issue approved last April by Delta school patrons.

The need for the addition became apparent to the 170 high school students and their parents in January 1993, when classes were canceled for two days because of crumbling bricks in the old high school building.

The addition will include a science lab and classroom, home economics lab, business classroom, library, office space, multipurpose room and cafeteria.

About $125,000 in cutbacks had to be made when the bids were opened last fall; however, Beshears said they are small items that will not affect the overall function of the building.