LAKE PARK, Minn. - Though construction on the renovations to Lake Park-Audubon Elementary School has already started, disruption of classes has been minimal so far, according to Principal Sam Skaaland.
"So far, so good," he told members of the LP-A School Board during a meeting last week.
"There's been some dust," Skaaland added, and the fire alarm went off one morning after a construction worker turned off the water supply, which temporarily interrupted the water supply to the sprinkler system, causing the alarm to go off.
And an aging sewer pipe collapsed - after being identified and temporarily covered over to allow construction to proceed. The plumber had to wait a few days to get the necessary permit and it has been replaced.
But other than that, there haven't been too many noticeable effects.
ADVERTISEMENT
LP-A Superintendent Dale Hogie said excavation is completed on two areas of construction at the elementary, the footings are poured, and block work is either under way or will be starting shortly.
One construction area is for the installation of five new classrooms on the southwest corner of the existing building.
The second area of construction is on the new mechanical/utility area in the basement of the old 1922 building and is scheduled for demolition in June.
The block work on that area is set to start shortly, Hogie added.
"The hope is when that (mechanical/utility) area is finished, we will be able to move out of the existing custodial area and start renovating that area for classrooms," he said, adding that work on that portion of the renovation "won't start until after Christmas."
As for work on the new high school site in Lake Park, Hogie said they are tentatively eyeing mid-November for the start date on the new access road, the design of which will be handled by Moore Engineering.
Hogie also noted that the original design of the high school itself "has been flipped," placing the main entrance on the west side instead of the east.
The construction documents for the high school should be done by Christmas, so bids can be opened in January, he told the board at the meeting.
ADVERTISEMENT
Vicki Gerdes writes for the Detroit Lakes News Tribune
