By SVERRE BAKKE
The Enterprise
An asbestos problem the White Salmon Valley School District didn't forsee has put the installation of new flooring in nine Wayne M. Henkle Middle School rooms on hold.
Superintendent Dale Palmer said the district's flooring contractor would not attempt to finish the nine rooms at Henkle before the start of the 2007-08 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
"The asbestos cleanup went very well, but it has set us back," Palmer noted, referring to a $21,869 project the school board approved last month following the discovery of asbestos-contaminated glue on floors the district wants to cover with new, rubberized flooring.
The earliest the flooring contractor could complete the project now is during the district's winter break between Dec. 17 and Jan. 1. After that it would be spring break. Palmer, however, was skeptical about it happening during either of those periods.
"We want to get it done as soon as possible. But realistically, in all likelihood, we're looking at next summer," Palmer said.
In other project news:
Fabrication of Hulan L. Whitson Elementary School's new 4,096-square-foot, four-classroom module is scheduled to begin Sept. 6.
"It should take about a month to finish once construction starts," Palmer said.
Recently, the module contractor, Williams-Scottsman of Marysville, had a concrete construction crew in White Salmon. The crew, from Fred Ingle Concrete Construction, Inc., of Vancouver, poured the foundation and footings for the module, which will sit on the Whitson campus in roughly the same footprint as a previous classroom module.
Following construction, the new module will be transported to White Salmon in sections for set-up, probably by mid-October, Palmer said.
In the meantime, the district is overseeing the installation of connections for utility services and purchasing the furnishings, flooring and equipment that will go into the classrooms.
If all goes as planned, the classrooms could be ready for occupancy by the second week of November.
"My optimistic side says we'll be able to move in by Veterans Day, but my pessimistic side is saying not until after Thanksgiving," Palmer said, "and right now I'm not feeling very optimistic."
Palmer reported better news, however, with regard to progress on the refurbishing of CHS Stadium's six-lane track. The new surface is installed and striping began Monday. The key, Palmer added, is that work will be done before Friday night's football season opener between Columbia High and Goldendale.
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