By Scott Halasz
JAMESTOWN — For the second straight year, students in the Greeneview Local School District are getting a longer summer break.
While most students are back in session, Greeneview won’t begin until Wednesday, Aug. 31 due to construction work at the elementary school.
“We planned on starting school later,” Superintendent Isaac Seevers said. “It was intentional for us.”
Crews are adding air conditioning to the building, which was constructed in 1962, as well as updating the building’s security, electricity and technology. The district is adding voice-over IP phones to classrooms, increased power supply to run interactive boards, wireless internet access, the backbone for security cameras and access controls for the doors.
Seevers said adding the air conditioning is part of the building’s security because without it, doors and windows needed to be open during the day.
“It was just in need of updates for security and technology and comfort,” Seevers said. “Hopefully we’ll get back to a normal schedule next year.”
To make up for the late start, the district’s winter break will be cut short. It will begin Dec. 23 and end Jan. 2, with classes resuming Jan. 3. By doing that, classes are able to end for the year June 2.
The project is costing approximately $2.25 million, according to Seevers, with the money coming from funds left over after last year’s high school construction project. No future projects are being planned.
“This is it for now unless we get more money down the road,” Seevers said.
The school district is still pursuing legal options concerning the high school construction, which was found to have many major flaws. Should the district recoup money from that, it could allow for more construction updates.
