Construction causes another delay in start of school for Uniontown
Roberto M. Esquivel/HeraldStandard.com
Contractors work on the steps and a sidewalk that lead to the new entrance at Uniontown Area High School. Renovations at the high school are the cause of another delay to the start of school this year.
Steelworkers work on a new section of Uniontown Area High School. The start of the school year at the high school was pushed back one more week due to renovation delays.
Renovations at Uniontown Area High School continue to delay the start of the 2011 school year.
Construction at the Uniontown Area High School has again caused a delay in the start of school this fall.
Crews had been working to finish the front staircase and elevators in time for high school students to return Monday, two weeks later than the other Fayette County school districts, but according to Dr. Charles Machesky, district superintendent, the work will not be finished in time and the new start date has been pushed back to Sept. 19.
鈥淎fter officials have toured the high school and after having conversations with contractors and the building inspector, we didn鈥檛 feel comfortable enough with the progress to have the students in there,鈥� Machesky said.
He said that while the elevators are fully operational and have passed inspection, the front staircase is projected to be finished just this weekend, not allowing any time for clearing hallways and cleaning.
Machesky also noted that there are places where missing tile has left gaps creating tripping hazards and other work will need to be finished in some office spaces and classrooms.
All elementary schools as well as Lafayette and Ben Franklin middle schools opened Tuesday, and Machesky said those schools will remain opened despite the newest delay at the high school.
鈥淲e are working with the Department of Education to try to get time made up for (high school) students without extending their school year past June 4,鈥� Machesky said.
He said while it蘑菇视频 too early to comment on any make-up days throughout the year, those dates will be released after he receives approval from the state as well as the school board.
Students who attend the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute had the option of beginning classes on Aug. 29 when other districts in the county returned to class if they provided their own transportation. Dr. Edward Jeffreys, executive director at FCCTI, said that about 30 of Uniontown蘑菇视频 190 students enrolled at the school have attended when school opened.
鈥淲hat the faculty has offered to do for those students who could not get here is to stay up to two days a week after classes to assist the Uniontown students to help them get caught up after they return to school on Sept. 19,鈥� Jeffreys said.
He said beginning Monday, a bus will be provided at the Uniontown high school at 11:15 a.m. to help transport students to FCCTI and then return them to the high school at the end of the academic day.
Jeffreys said the school has always allowed faculty and students to stay after school on Wednesdays for additional instruction if needed. He said faculty has offered to increase that by at least another day a week if Uniontown students express an interest.
鈥淢aybe on occasion, we may even have Saturday classes depending on the shop and the number of the kids who want to,鈥� Jeffreys noted.
Jeffreys said the biggest concern is allowing the students enough time to complete their senior projects.
鈥淏ut I am confident with the quality of students we are getting from Uniontown that these kids are going to come in here, hit the ground running and make up the work quickly,鈥� he said.