High School Construction to Wrap up

Extra sprinkler heads will need to be added to the greenhouse at Newtown High School and other minor items need to be addressed before the project winds to a complete close this summer, according to the Public Building and Site Commission.

Construction, which began with a groundbreaking in 2009 has had its share of hiccups and delays, but by the end of this summer, is expected to end, commission members said this week.

"We should be ramping down," Chairman Bob Mitchell said of the project. "There shouldn't be a lot out there."

Students and staff but construction crews remained on site to address remaining work items on a so-called punch list.

Mark Schweitzer, the project manager from general contractor, Morganti, said all of that work should come to a close by the end of July but definitely before the start of the 2011-12 school year.

is taking some extra time after the fire marshal asked that more sprinkler heads be installed, commission members said. The greenhouse is considered a classroom and the sprinkler set-up did not provide as much coverage as deemed by the fire marshal, commission members said.