Construction crews are completing the remaining work at Southern Gap High School following the successful opening of Buchanan County’s new consolidated high school.
Construction superintendent Tim Burge updated the Buchanan County School Board during its Sept. 15 meeting at the School Board offices in the Buchanan County Government Building.
“We did get it open on time,” Burge told the board.
Burge said the school is already hosting athletic contests and other activities, and the response from students, families and community members has been positive.
“They’ve had ballgames and all kinds of things going on up there,” Burge said. “People seem to be really enjoying the school. Everybody’s impressed with it that I’ve talked with.”
Although students are occupying the building, Burge said crews remain on-site to complete punch-list items and address minor issues that arise as the facility is used. Contractors have until early October to complete the punch list.
“We’re just wrapping up things and taking care of issues that come up daily,” Burge said. “It seems we find something here and there — minor stuff most of the time — and we’ve got crews taking care of those things right now.”
Work is also continuing on the school’s baseball and softball fields. Burge said fencing was being installed, with crews preparing to place sod and construct the pitching mounds.
Over the next several weeks, workers are expected to finish the punch-list items and complete the commissioning of the school’s mechanical and other operating systems. Burge said he also hoped work on the sound system would be completed during the week of the meeting.
“Everything seems to be going pretty good,” Burge said.
