Final touches being added as school district's $35 million building plan nears completion
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Construction workers with Sossamon Construction are working to complete masonry work at the Limestone Learning Center.

The Cherokee County School District is nearing completion on a $35 million school building program that started last fall.

Students are already using the new Blacksburg High ninth grade addition. The Goucher Elementary addition was inspected April 7 by the state's Office of School Facilities (OSF).

Several school construction projects are on target for a June 1 completion date, according to the latest report from Southern Management. They include a Gaffney High ninth grade addition and track, Limestone Learning Center and an overflow parking lot at Gaffney High.

The Gaffney High stadium is scheduled for completion July 24.

The district is using part of its "Eight Percent Money" annual debt limit to make installment payments on the new school buildings. The district's debt millage increased last year from 12 to 26 mills to help pay off the building program.

Southern Management senior project manager Jim Britton provided the school board with a written report on the status of the projects this week.

"The current status of the Gaffney High ninth grade building involves starting up all the heating and air conditioning equipment and then installing the final finishes for ceiling tile, carpet, wood doors, etc.," Britton said. "The project is on schedule to reach substantial completion prior to June 1."

An occupancy permit will be issued for Goucher Elementary once a few items are corrected by contractor Sossamon Construction, Britton said. The contractor will likely be finished at Goucher Elementary in two weeks.

A final inspection for the Gaffney High parking lot will be scheduled soon with the state's Department of Transportation and Office of School Facilities.

Asphalt paving for the high school track is scheduled for next Friday followed by the planting of grass for the track-and-field event areas, Britton said. The final rubberized track surface will be installed next month.

All new school building projects are under a one-year warranty. Shortly before the warranty expires, Britton said inspections will be done to identify any issues in the new buildings that need to be corrected by contractors.