Newtown’s New 5/6 School Is Taking Shape

By Tanjua Damon

The 5/6 school site is no longer a brown heap of dirt. The shape of the school is now becoming visible to passersby on Wasserman Way.

David Valerie and Tim Alix of Strategic Building Solutions updated the Board of Education November 7 about the progress of the school. The weather has cooperated with construction since it began in June.

“Things are going very well. They are moving along,” Mr Alix said. “Being there every day, we see a lot of activity. But people driving by won’t see that.”

Phase I of the project, the abatement and demolition of Watertown Hall is near completion. The abatement portion is done, but crews continue to remove and sort ruble from the demolition of the building.

“It really is amazing to see. They are taking it piece by piece,” Mr Valerie said. “They throw the stuff in the right piles. It really is impressive to see.”

Phase II is the construction of the school, which is finally taking shape. Steel arrived on site in late September. The foundation to the gymnasium and cafeteria were laid during the summer. Currently the steel is being put up for the gym and the roof is being put on.

“There is a lot of underground work – utilities, water and sewer being done,” Mr Alix said. “They have done a good job trying to finish up the retention basin.”

But overall the project is on schedule and progressing well.

“There are typical construction issues in dealing with different contractors. There are other coordination issues that are typical,” Mr Alix said. “Things are going along well.”

The 5/6 school is expected to open in January 2003. The new school on the corner of Wasserman Way and Trades Lane will be able to house 1,100 fifth and sixth graders. The cost of the project is $28.6 million.

“From where we are in the project, getting off the ground, we are in pretty good shape,” Mr Valerie said. “I’d say we’ve weathered it well. In terms of how we compare to typical projects, we’re ahead of the game.”