GALLIPOLIS FERRY — While the majority of students in Mason County will head back to the classroom on Wednesday, Aug. 26, students at Beale Elementary will not return until Monday, Aug. 31.

This is due to the on-going construction of Beale Elementary School, which is a School Building Authority (SBA) major funded project, and includes a full interior renovation plus the new addition of a Pre-K special needs classroom for three and four year old children.

According to Dr. William Capehart, Mason County Schools Superintendent, contractors began construction on the facility as soon as school was out in the spring. Work was on schedule for the school to accommodate students on Aug. 26 until two weeks ago, Capehart said.

He added that the construction schedule was altered due to the construction workers not receiving essential materials and supplies that are needed to finish the project.

“On Tuesday the fire marshall met with the school district and project manager at Beale Elementary and gave us student occupancy as of Monday, Aug. 31,” Capehart said.

Although Beale students will begin school three days later than other Mason County School students, Capehart emphasized that they will not need to make the days up at the end of the school year.

“As superintendent my only concern was the three instructional days missed for grades 1-6 because our kindergarten and preschool students don’t start school until a week later,” Capehart said. “But the good thing about Beale Elementary’s schedule is that they complete a greater number of hours and minutes that is already required by the state. Beale Elementary operates on a seven and a half hour instruction day, so the three days will not put the school in jeopardy because they have exceeded the time of the school day.”

Construction workers certainly are hard at work to prepare the school for students. According to Gary Mitchell, Mason County Schools Director of Facilities, the entire interior of Beale Elementary School has changed.

“This is a total renovation. The only thing that remains is the outer shell of the school,” Mitchell said, adding that a new building, which will hold preschool classrooms, has also been constructed.

Interior changes include, new tile in all classrooms as well as a newly designed kitchen with new walk-in freezers and a stove. In addition, sprinklers have been added to each classroom. According to Mitchell, due to the addition of sprinklers, classrooms that originally had exit doors to the outside now have windows instead.

Mitchell also emphasized that the sprinklers will make the school both safer and more secure for students and faculty. The school also will have a new HVAC system installed and each individual classroom will be able to set their temperature to either four degrees above or below the temperature of the school.

Project supervisor, Jeff Spurlock of Neighborall Construction, said that the school will be ready for students on Aug. 31. According to Spurlock, the majority of construction will be complete with the exception of some minor cosmetic details.

According to Mitchell, once school is in session, construction will continue in the evening hours to do work, such as placing tile in the halls. The entire project is expected to be complete by October.

Mitchell praised the Beale Elementary School staff for being patient and understanding throughout construction, and also said that the construction team has done a fabulous job on the school. Capehart agreed that even with the minor setback, the school is in good shape.

“It is going to be well worth the inconvenience of those three (school) days missed...Their seven and a half hours a day with the up to date instructional renovations will make Beale Elementary a state of the art educational school,” Capehart said.