CHESAPEAKE – With school’s opening day looming, construction at Chesapeake school district is in full swing.

Monday, August 06, 2001

CHESAPEAKE – With school’s opening day looming, construction at Chesapeake school district is in full swing.

"So far, so good" said Chesapeake school board member, Carl Lilly, Jr., when asked how the construction project is advancing.

Three years ago, Chesapeake residents passed a $2.4 mil maintenance levy securing state funds for the school district’s construction project. When the dust settles and the construction workers pack up the tools of the trade, the district will see a new middle school, and renovations to the elementary school and high school.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October of 2000 kicking-off the construction of the 63,000 square-foot building. Construction started during the end of last school year and through the summer.

The new middle school will contain a 3,000 square-foot cafeteria, central heating and air, more classrooms and a library.

In a previous interview, Chesapeake Superintendent Fred Wood said the new middle school will also provide a safer and cleaner environment. He said the new building will instill more pride in the school and provide a better learning environment.

Work on the high school is also in full gear. Construction will bring two new classrooms, an elevator and an extension of the music room to the 12-year-old school. Wood said new carpet, new lighting, a sprinkler system, new ceilings and a new heating and air unit will be completed by the end of the summer interim.

Lilly said the board received a report that the project has been set back a few months due to rain and the after-December opening of the new middle school may be pushed back to March. He said the board would then need to consider whether to open the school or wait until the next school year kicks off.

After the high school project is completed and the middle school is built, plans are in the works to do renovations and additions to the elementary school.

When all of the construction is completed, it will be the first time Chesapeake has had all new schools.