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Kitchen delay, asbestos abatement and added beams slow Amherst high‑school renovation; board requests accounting update
Summary
Amherst County administrators told the school board that asbestos abatement and the need for additional structural beams uncovered during renovation work could delay the high‑school kitchen, and that the district has a short‑term feeding contingency and will use reserves to cover some unexpected costs.
School administration and the project manager updated the Amherst County School Board on progress and setbacks at the high‑school renovation, saying crews have completed many interior upgrades but that unexpected abatement and structural fixes could delay the cafeteria kitchen opening for the first week or two of classes.
Dr. Houghton told the board the lecture hall and library have been painted and that new seating and furniture are arriving. Project superintendent Gary Oakes showed photos of work in the cafeteria, the new freezer and interior classrooms. Oakes said crews discovered incomplete beams and areas requiring asbestos abatement when crews peeled back finishes in the 1950s construction. “We had to get it abated to do it right,” he said, describing tile removal and mitigation work.
Administration warned the board that, as a result of the abatement and added structural work, the kitchen may not be ready when school opens. Staff said they have a short‑term contingency plan to feed students if the kitchen is unavailable, and that some extra costs will be paid from division reserves. A board member asked for a full accounting of change orders and allocations; Dr. Houghton and Oakes agreed to present a detailed budget update at the next meeting.
The project team also reported weather‑related damage from a lightning strike that affected an exterior meter box at the field house; electrical service was restored and wiring inspected. Other progress items included windows, exterior doors, new auditorium steps and new cafeteria furniture. Oakes invited board members to a site walkthrough.
