Heather Latter
Frequent thunderstorms with heavy downpours that have occurred since June has delayed the construction of the new wing of Donald Young School by two to four weeks.
But Travis Enge, manager of plant operations and maintenance for the Rainy River District School Board, noted they are not too concerned about the schedule slip at this time.
“This is still very early in the project and the weather is expected to improve,” he reasoned.
“The backfill will soon be partially complete on a significant portion of building footprint which will reduce our exposure to poor weather conditions,” he added.
Finn Way General Contractor Inc. of Thunder Bay was awarded the contract for the project in April that will see a brand new classroom wing built at the Emo school.
The new wing is being built directly in front of the existing one.
Passersby will notice plenty of activity, with work trailers, equipment, and mounds of dirt on site.
Enge noted selective demolition has been done, while as of last week, excavation was about 90 percent complete and the concrete footing and grade beams are 40 percent complete.
“The contractor is actively working on the project,” he voiced, citing they still intend to have the majority of the exterior completed by the time the snow flies, so over the winter months they can work on the interior and have it ready for the spring.
Enge indicated that once the new building is ready, they’ll move everything over from the old building.
The board is expecting staff and students to be in the new wing for the 2017-18 school year.
“And once we get that emptied out, they will start to demolish the old wing next summer,” he said, adding there is a tie-in between the new wing and the existing gym and remaining classroom—and all that will be completed next summer, as well.
Then once the contract is completed, a team will move on to the site plan, such as curbs, paving, and a playground.
“The playground reinvestment money that has been allocated for playgrounds, Donald Young is hanging on to theirs until the construction is done and then we’ll be revitalizing their playground, too,” Enge said.
He noted the school area will be a very busy place, but stressed safety is key, especially when students return to school at the end of the month.
“The construction zone and school zone have been defined for the start of school,” Enge indicated.
“That’s what the fencing and defining the construction area is all for is to make sure students and staff are safely away from all that busy work,” he remarked.
“We do not expect any safety issues operating the school during construction,” added Enge.
Enge said the project has been a long time coming.
“The students and staff at Donald Young have been waiting a long time for a new building, and they are excited and I’m excited to be facilitating the building of this,” he enthused.
The kindergarten-Grade 8 school was deemed “prohibitive to repair” back in 2003 and has had a few updates done over the past decade.
After trustees voted against administration’s recommendation to consolidate Donald Young, Crossroads, and Sturgeon Creek schools back in February, 2014, it agreed to proceed with an investigation into the DYS renovation project.
It ultimately was decided a rebuild of the school’s main classroom wing was in its best interest.
Enge said the new wing will house seven classrooms, a new administration area, library, staff room, bathrooms, a special education room, a resource room, a speech therapy room, a circle room, and a mechanical and electrical room.
The section currently housing the gym and library will remain, with the library reverting back to a classroom.
“They’ve been very patient, and everyone has done the best they can in the building they have, but it’s time for renewal,” Enge said.
