Junior-high construction nears finish as classes loom

With only a few days left before school begins, work on the first phase of construction at the junior high is coming to a close in the Cape Girardeau School District.

Neil Glass, assistant superintendent for administrative services, said all major goals have been met or are nearly at the finish line.

Teachers also were notified Monday they could begin getting their classrooms ready even as finishing touches were being made.

“Some teachers are further along than others, but by Thursday, we’ll get there,” Glass said.

In the academic wing of the school, which extends from the front office toward the library addition, hallways that once were accented in aqua have been painted in neutral tones.

All classrooms have received new tiled floors, drop-ceilings have been installed throughout, and a new air-conditioning system is up and running.

Bathrooms have been improved as well.

The $5 million in summer improvements are part of a $20 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2015.

The only items that remain to be completed at the school are adjustments to the fire alarms and ensuring construction dust and debris are removed before students return for the fall session Thursday morning.

Although Glass acknowledged there were concerns about air conditioning, he said that is a non-issue now that the new system is operational.

At the end of last school year, the school district opted to turn off air conditioning in the last two weeks, as the old system’s chiller went offline and outside temperatures were not expected to be high.

Glass estimated the system was at least 20 years old and operated on a water-pumping mechanism.

“To cool that building for the last two weeks was going to cost a considerable amount of money for a temporary hookup,” he said.

As soon as the remaining items in phase one are completed, school officials will begin looking forward to the second phase of junior-high construction, scheduled for next summer.

At that time, work will begin on the area once occupied by the old gymnasium, where administrative offices, a science lab and other amenities will be added.

A new practice gym will be built as well. Until then, students at the junior high will not be able to go past the auditorium area to the left of the front office; the part of the building where the old gym was will be blocked for safety reasons.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

205 Caruthers Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.