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District construction updates: Coltrane Webber, Mary Frances Wall and Opportunity School progress reported
Summary
Construction manager Brian Cohen told the board grading, underground utilities and foundation work are ongoing across three school projects; weather has delayed some structural steel milestones and caused rework on unsuitable soils.
Brian Cohen, a district construction staff member, updated the Cabarrus County Board of Education on progress at three building projects during the June 2 work session: Coltrane Webber (new school), Mary Frances Wall, and the Opportunity School.
Coltrane Webber: Cohen said public sanitary sewer lines are active and the district abandoned old lines that crossed the property. An underground detention system for the multipurpose field is installed and being backfilled; aggregate piers are being drilled to support B-wing foundation work. He noted the first-submission approval rate on submittals was 89% but that structural steel and rebar installation were delayed by heavy rain (about nine inches in May). Cohen said the contractor has procured steel and delivery is pending site readiness, not a pricing issue.
Mary Frances Wall: the primary activity has been rock crushing and site preparation; footings and foundations have been poured and underground electrical pathways are beginning. Cohen said special inspections meetings with Cabarrus County Building Inspection Department will be scheduled and that stormwater piping installation is imminent once rock work concludes.
Opportunity School: site grading and building pad work are complete; underground plumbing and stormwater installation are scheduled. Cohen said crews encountered unsuitable soil in the main parking-area subgrade and are undercutting and importing suitable fill from district borrow pits on other sites. He gave a projected completion date of June 2026 for the Opportunity School project.
Why it matters: the projects represent multi-year capital investments in district facilities with scheduling, budget and contractor coordination implications. Cohen flagged weather delays and soil conditions as the primary near-term risks and said staff are coordinating with principals on playground layouts and furniture/casework to align finishes with school needs.
Quotes and specifics: "We have completed the new sanitary sewer lines," Cohen said of Coltrane Webber. Regarding steel, he clarified, "Steel's just behind on schedule. I mean, it's the steel's paid for... it's been procured, just hasn't been delivered to the site because we're not quite ready for it because of the rain delays." For Opportunity School he said the contractor will begin footings and foundation work in the next two to three weeks.
Ending: Board members had no objections; staff will continue to report monthly and said they will coordinate upcoming special inspections with county inspectors.
