New school something to be proud of

The people of the McCook area have known since May of 2004 that they were going to be getting a new, expanded school at the North Ward site, but it has not been until the past week that they have been able to visualize the full extent of the project.

The reality came into vivid view when the 30-foot, 7-inch sidewalls were put in place for the multi-purpose room at the center of the spacious McCook elementary school complex. The pre-cast slabs, which weigh between 35,000 and 40,000 pounds each, were hoisted last week, providing a dramatic centerpiece for the $5.8 million school improvement project.

Despite holdups because of steel shipments, the project remains on schedule, according to the general superintendent, Larry Weaver of Sampson Construction. "We're at a stand-still now because of the mud, but otherwise things have been going well."

The last of the steel -- for joists, posts and beams -- was delivered two weeks ago, meaning that materials are in place for the spring and summer construction rush.

Other than the mud -- which prevents movement of pre-cast materials and heavy equipment -- Weaver sees no obstacles in the way of completion of parts of the project by late August, and the rest by the end of October.

"We're expecting to have the kindergarten classrooms, the commons area and the multi-purpose room completed by the start of school in late August," he said.

The rest of the project is scheduled for completion in October, at which time first, second and third graders will move from the modulars and East Ward into the new classroom space.

When driving by the elementary campus, passers-by are struck by the scope of the new school facility. While North Ward was confined to the southeast side of the two-square- block area, the new McCook Elementary building will stretch nearly all the way from West O on the south to West Q on the north, with the large multi-purpose room in the middle.

Despite the mud, the modulars and varying stages of construction now in evidence, it's already apparent the completed project will be one in which patrons of the district can take justifiable pride. It's been a long time coming, but the result should prove to be worth the effort.