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Mercer County officials report steady progress on new elementary building; roof, stone and courtyard work underway
Summary
District facilities staff and the project manager gave the board an on-site construction update: cast stone and spray foam installation is advancing, multiple building areas are dry and under roof, the cafeteria decking is largely complete and tile work will begin next week. Exterior playground separation and a detention pond were also described.
District facilities staff provided the Mercer County Board of Education with an on-site construction update on the new elementary building, reporting progress on exterior stonework, roofing, interior framing and targeted upcoming trades.
The presenter said Area A (closest to the road) has cast stone installed up to window height, metal stud framing is complete in much of Area A and drywall work has begun on mezzanine levels. Areas D and E, which include the storm shelter, were described as under roof and weathertight; Area B has roofing and weather membrane in place.
Contractors have completed about 80% of decking for the cafeteria, and tile contractors are scheduled to begin bathroom tile work in Area E the following week. The presenter said the standing-seam roof deliveries are due immediately and work could begin as soon as the end of the week or the following Monday. Concrete block wall finishes, painting and subsequent brickwork are also in progress around the courtyard.
Playgrounds and site work: the project manager described separate fenced playground exits for preschool/kindergarten and first/second grades and noted rough grading is complete on much of the parking and front areas. Work on the detention pond had begun and topsoil placements were taking place in out-of-the-way areas of the site.
Drone footage and on-site observation: the facilities presenter said he captured drone video to illustrate progress and noted that interior drone flights might be attempted once drywall and other trades provide safe clearances. He cautioned that indoor drone use risks damage to drywall and said a spare blade set had been kept on-site during test flights.
Why it matters: the update indicates several major building envelopes are closed to weather, which supports progress on interior finishes and targeted trade schedules; the board heard that visible exterior changes should increase in the next one to two months as roofing and brickwork continue.
Next steps: staff said tile work, continued block filling and roof installation are immediate priorities and that further visual changes will be apparent by the next board meeting.
