New gym floor project experiences delays

Students and staff came into the year anticipating a brand new, finished gym, yet arrived to find an incomplete construction site. The project hit an unexpected bump, as the construction did not go exactly according to plan. Building commissioner B.J. Church commented on the delay saying, “I saw how the floor wasn’t being done right.” She put a stop-work order on the job, pushed back the deadline, and delayed the project. Assistant Principal Pat Lemieux gave an estimate of November for the project to be completed.

Since the beginning of the school year, students in physical education classes have been forced to attend class in either the auditorium, a classroom, or outside. Physical education teacher Eric Castonguay said that although it’s normal for gym classes to occur outside early in the year, “it’s getting colder and colder outside every day.” Students are handling the restrictions well and Castonguay compliments their patience and good behavior even “when it’s 42 degrees outside.”

Superintendent Nick Young said that school officials “always knew it was going to take longer to replace the gym than we had time during summer vacation.” Young also said that the project had been expected to be completed by the end of September, or October 1st at the latest, if there had been no problems. The project however, obviously did not stay problem-free.

While it’s a little too late for those on the volleyball team, who lost their regular home court to the construction and had to practice and play elsewhere, the project seems to be on track to be finished for basketball season. Young expressed excitement for the upcoming basketball season, saying that it will be great to play on a brand new court.