Bond project update: Kearney Elementary, Dogwood and Hawthorne report masonry progress despite winter weather

Newkirk Novak construction manager Joe Brown updated the board on bond-funded work at three schools, reporting that cold and snowy weather has slowed some exterior work but that crews have used heated tenting and temporary access tunnels to keep interior masonry and foundation work moving.

At Kearney Elementary, Brown said crews demoed the front entrance canopy, installed a temporary access tunnel and completed footings and foundations; concrete slab on grade was scheduled for Jan. 24, according to his update. At Dogwood, slab on grade was complete and masonry work continued; Brown said Dogwood and Hawthorne were both projected to reach masonry completion around Feb. 14. At Hawthorne, he reported heated tenting had been removed in parts of the site and work had moved to the next section.

Brown told the board that, despite weather challenges, "on all 3 projects, we are still on schedule and our end date hasn't been impacted." Board members asked for questions; none were recorded. The project updates were provided as an informational item and were accompanied elsewhere on the agenda by bond‑funded contract approvals for related work.

Board members reiterated that the approved agreements and purchases discussed later in the meeting were to be paid with bond proceeds and noted the bond scope included HVAC and deferred maintenance work tied to those projects.