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School construction projects to move forward in Marshall

MARSHALL — There’s been a lot of upheaval for local schools over the past month, but construction of a new elementary school in Marshall is still moving forward, as is an expansion project at Park Side Elementary.

Some of the early preparations for construction are already visible, said Dion Caron, director of business services at Marshall Public Schools.

“The construction workers, as far as we can see, are deemed essential employees, so they should be able to continue working at this point,” Caron said in a report to the Marshall School Board on Monday. Caron updated the board on both construction projects as part of their regular meeting.

Caron said MPS has continued to have construction meetings for both the new elementary school and the Park Side expansion. Construction meetings for the Park Side project were held on March 11 and March 25. The next scheduled meeting would be on April 8. The Park Side construction will add classrooms to the school, and create more space for early childhood education.

“Every meeting we go through with the general contractor,” as well as with subcontractors, Caron said. Some of the meeting topics have been on setting expectations for construction site security and cleanup.

Caron said there had been concerns about whether the delivery of important materials or equipment parts for construction at Park Side would be delayed due to the COVID-19. However, he said contractors thought key items, like an air handler, would be available without delays from the manufacturer.

“We’re waiting for the building permit right now, we feel like that will come soon,” as well as the state’s plan review for the project, Caron said. In the meantime contractors will be able to do some demolition work.

“So they’ve got the (construction) fence up at Park Side,” Caron said. On Wednesday, construction workers were removing parts of sidewalks in the construction zone outside the school building.

Construction meetings for the new school, which will be built along Southview Drive near Marshall Middle School, started on April 1. Caron said the next meeting was coming April 8. During the meeting, MPS learned the contractor, Peska Construction, had a plan in place for social distancing at the work site, as well as what to do if a worker got sick.

Caron said the construction trailer for the project would probably be delivered this week, and a construction fence is already in place around the work site. Later this week or next week, grading work and tree removal will likely take place, he said.

“They feel the precast concrete walls will be delivered the week of June 22,” Caron said. Construction over the summer will start with the two-story portion of the school building.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Caron said of progress on the two school projects. “With everything that’s going on with COVID-19, it’s exciting to see some good things going on.”

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