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SUNNY Temp: 86 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 9, 2003 Eagle Point starts on time; new schools behind schedule By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — Classroom space may be tight, but students will start the year on time rather than waiting 20 days for crews to finish building three new schools. Turns out the schools won’t be finished even then. "Starting 20 days late isn’t going to change anything. Those schools still won’t be ready," said school board chairwoman Yvonne Fletes. "To (cut days) at the beginning of the year would have shortchanged our students." In June, the school board discussed cutting 20 consecutive school days — starting Sept. 2 — to save the district $1.6 million in unpaid salaries. The board never voted on the issue, and the district’s employee unions didn’t support the idea. Advertisement Former Superintendent Bill Jones urged the board to approve the delay in order to save money and allow crews time to complete a new elementary and middle school in White City and a middle school in Eagle Point. Those projects were scheduled for completion in September but he said they had fallen behind. But newly hired Superintendent Bill Feusahrens last week asked board members to reconsider delaying the start of the school year. He pointed out that a projected $1 million in savings from a cap on contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System could eliminate the need to cut days. In addition, Feusahrens learned that completion dates on the three buildings had been pushed back one to two months, rather than two weeks. After listening to his proposal to shuffle students into different buildings, the board gave its unanimous consent to his plan. "I think it’s terrific. It’s something that I wanted to put as our top priority," said Feusahrens. "When you miss instructional days, you’re hurting kids." According to project manager Dave McFall, delays in the permit process and problems with the steel contractor pushed back the completion date of White City Elementary School until Dec. 1. Work at Eagle Point elementary and middle schools also has fallen behind by one month, he added. "We had anticipated a time frame and it just didn’t happen," said McFall, who noted that it is no fault of construction contractors. The district doesn’t have any money left over from the voter-approved bond that paid for the new schools to offer contractors an incentive or overtime pay to get the project done faster, he added. Feusahrens said until the new schools open, space will be very tight but added that the situation is temporary. "We’ll meet all fire and safety codes," he added. It’s unclear how many students will be affected. Projected enrollment figures for September weren’t available on Tuesday. Although no additional delays have been reported at the three sites, McFall said the completion dates are only, "a best guess," and the schools could open sooner or later than anticipated. "In construction, every day is an adventure. You don’t know what’s going to happen," he added. Eagle Point Elementary School — Students will be sent to nearby Little Butte Elementary School, which has several empty classrooms. The new elementary school’s estimated completion date is Sept. 29. Eagle Point Middle School — Students will attend class at the old junior high site. Although a September 2002 fire gutted much of the building, 14 classrooms in the math, science and art wing remain intact and meet safety standards. Students would eat lunch at nearby Glenn D. Hale Elementary. The new middle school’s estimated completion date is Nov. 2. White City Middle School — Students will go to Hale, which closed in June due to budget cuts. The middle school’s estimated completion date is Dec. 1. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times