Jefferson getting ready for school projects

JEFFERSON school officials met recently with representatives of its architectural firm and construction manager in anticipation of preliminary work on big-ticket construction projects starting soon.

The system is adding a new classroom wing, cafeteria and kitchen to the elementary school; a new classroom annex and kitchen at the high school; and a spacious new high school gym.

Craig Buckley of James W. Buckley and Associates — the firm designing this $25 million, bond-funded construction package — addressed the Jefferson Board of Education (BOE) two weeks ago and said the next major step is relocating the fiber optics at the high school and the system server, beginning in November.
Buckley said the firm would return with all of its engineers to meet with school officials and the contractor to decide where all electrical fiber-optics, storm drains and major utilities will be located for each project.

Another major step in moving forward with construction is relocating the main high school entry driveway and the back driveway.

At the elementary school, plans for the fiber optics there haven’t been hashed out yet, Buckley said, but moving utilities has been discussed.

The bus drive circle at the elementary school will need to be relocated, too, Buckley said.

By Dec. 15, the system should be in position for the construction manager to bid out a phase-one earthwork grading and a basic package for removing utilities. That work can begin at the first of the year.