Project construction on schedule

Aaron Hight, Crossland Construction, gives Nevada R-5 School Board members, from left, Nora Quitno, Joy Hawks, Jeremy Fast, Mike McCaffree, Monty Smith, Dr. David Stephens, R-5 superintendent, Dr. Tyson Beashore, R-5 assistant superintendent and Steve Cubbage, a tour of the new performing arts center and the muli-purpose building before Wednesday's monthly Nevada R-5 Board of Education meeting.Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

The good news is that in spite of the snow, rain and cold weather in late April and early May, the construction of the new performing arts center and multi-purpose building at Nevada High School are still well ahead of schedule.

"We've only lost one day," Aaron Hight, construction manager on the projects for Crossland Construction, said after a tour of the two buildings Wednesday.

The bad news is that completion of the buildings is not the same as occupancy.

The new multi-purpose building is on scheduled to be completed by the start of school in August. The roof trusses are up and the walls are partially finished.Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

Hight told the Nevada R-5 School Board Wednesday that although the performing arts center building is currently estimated to be complete Sept. 11, it will not be ready for use until December.

The multi-purpose building is expected to be finished Aug. 13, he told the board.

"There is still a potential for it to be affected by the weather, but it is looking better and better," Hight said.

At this point he said that based on billing by subcontractors, which is how he estimates what has been finished, the Ella Maxwell Center for the Performing Arts is 44.36 percent complete.

"Some large items are starting next week," he said.

Work on the HVAC and the fire suppression has just started he said.

And the roof on the performing arts center is scheduled for a May 31 completion, he said.

"There will be just over 800 seats in the theater," he said.

The current auditorium in the high school seats 634.

"From now on there will be sizable changes each month," Hight told the board, which plans to tour the projects before each monthly board meeting.

In other business the board:

* Unanimously accepted resignations of Kevin McKinley, athletic director; Sharon Gadient, high school math; Neil Barnes, middle school physical education; Erica Wait, PN instructor; Anne Whiteaker, Truman special education; M. Jolene Sworde, transportation town route; but will remain as a substitute driver.

* Voted 7-0 to hire Jennifer Pace, middle school special education; Rachael Muse, Truman special education; Ashley Leininger, speech pathologist; Keith Butler, high school math, Fay Nieman, high school math; Stanetta Hoover, Truman special education; Brenda Bruce, Bryan para-educator; Blake Howarth, middle school football coach.

The board also unanimously approved the retirement of Marilyn Nichols, middle school lunch cashier; and the termination of Marla Vaughn, Bryan para and country bus driver.