Middle School Roof to Finish On Time

A final push this weekend will allow Newtown Middle School to open on time, officials said at Tuesday's Public Building and Site Commission meeting.

"By the weekend, we should be in very good shape," said Charles Boos, of Kaestle Boos Associates, a consultant on the project. "The skylights are almost complete. The roofing itself, the canopy is just about done."

With the cooperation of good weather, a push to get the work done by the contractor Silktown and some overtime, the project is winding to a close, with a final push expected this weekend in advance of the arrival of students next week, officials said.

"It has been a universal effort," Boos said.

Most of the interior work, including the replacement of ceiling tiles, is done with the exception of the kitchen and cafetorium, said Clerk of the Works Bill Knight, who is the town's on-site representative.

"Tomorrow morning, the fire marshal will be there to check the emergency light," he said. "They are going to test the fire alarm tomorrow afternoon."

Overtime work to get the final preparations completed is expected this weekend, though that will require the approval of the first selectman who is expected to attend the owner's meeting on Friday and decide, officials said.

The project, so far, has been progressing with few hitches, officials said. The air conditioning units have survived the roofing work with little damage as a result of lifting them up and them replacing them on the new roof. Some repairs were necessary on some of the units but none as a result of the lifting, officials said.

Still members of the Public Building Site and Commission continued to express concerns about the aging air conditioning units.

"I see us putting bald tires on a new car," commission member Tom Catalina said.

While the critical work on the project is out of the way, construction activity is likely to continue past the start of school, although they will be scheduled for after the school day and during off-hours, officials said.

"There are a lot of little work that needs to be done," Knight said.

The commission approved an initial payment of $1.3 million toward work done on the project.