Schools
New High School Gym Won't Likely Be Ready For Start of School Year
Superintendent: Main reasons are delayed equipment arrival, work at Valley
There likely won't be a grand opening this summer for the new gymnasium/community center at , as had been hoped, according to the district's new superintendent.
Moreover, David Baugh says, the 45,000-square-foot facility, for which ground was broken more than two years ago, probably won't be ready for students when they start the new school year.
“We're still trying to get a CO (certificate of occupancy) from the township,” Baugh said.
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“I'm pretty certain there won't be a grand opening until after the school year begins.”
Baugh said there is no difference of opinion between the township and district.
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“It all has to do with safety,” he said. “We're not going to put the kids in harm's way.”
Baugh said he is optimistic the gym can be opened in the early fall.
He said the main reason for the delay is the late arrival of heating/ventilation/air conditioning equipment, as has been reported by Patch. That equipment arrived from Jordan in late June, more than seven months late, business director Jack Myers has said.
In addition, Baugh said, district officials have had to put much focus on a new geothermal heating and cooling system at Valley Elementary School. That $6.4 million project features 100 wells outside the school through which water will be circulated to heat and cool the building.
The gym project has carried an estimated price tag of $15 million, with the township providing a $2 million state grant and $2 million of its own cash. The new facility will feature a three-court spectator gym with seating for 1,700 and an elevated track.
Ground was broken in July 2009 and as recently as last month, Myers and then-Superintendent Bill Gretzula expressed optimism of a summer grand opening despite the late-arriving equipment. At that time, Myers predicted substantial completion by the end of July.
Myers has said the district may file a lawsuit against Petra, the company from which it purchased the HVAC equipment. As a result of the delay, Myers has said, Petra provided temporary units at no extra cost to the district to cool the building so that the wood for the floor could get acclimated.
