The Nebraska City Board of Education approved a Sept. 7 start date for the high school at its meeting Monday, but all other buildings will remain on schedule for an Aug. 25 start date.
The school board approved an amended school calendar for the high school that cuts one day from the holiday break, one day from the Easter break and concludes the school year on May 27. The rest of the school district will get out of school on May 25.
Superintendent Jeff Edwards said the high school day will begin 10 minutes earlier to make up an equivalent of 3.8 school days. School will start at 7:50 a.m. rather than 8 a.m.
Construction at the high school forced the change in schedule.
Chuck Stoner, district construction observer, said all trades are on high school site and were working Monday without interference from the weather.
“Progress is being made, but it’s going to be a very trying year, not only for the staff, but for the students,” he said. “The place is in a shambles as far as being ready for school,” he said.
Edwards said he met last week with the state fire marshal and city building inspector to identify what needs to be done before the school can open this year.
There will be some classroom space available in the new construction area, but a firewall will be installed to separate the new gymnasium and unfinished classroom space from the rest of the building.
The fire alarms and fire suppression sprinklers must be operational for the occupied portion of the building and there must be emergency exits available on the west side of the building.
The school will not open until the building has access and egress that does not go through a construction zone. Edwards said a designated walkway is being established.
He said the contractor, Meco Henne Contracting, told him another week would do the job to get the school ready for an occupancy permit.
“He said another week would help a lot,” said Board Chairman John Crook.
If the school is not ready by Sept. 7, Edwards said the school year will be extended beyond Memorial Day on May 30.
The calendar change Monday does not impact sport schedules. The high school football team is scheduled to play Auburn at home on Aug. 27.
