Despite the recent rainy weather, construction on Newton Field Stadium has continued, and according to Project Manager at Buford Thompson construction Terry Gober, the project is still set to be finished by August, before the first football game.

“Looking at our schedule status, the concrete piers have been poured since our last meeting, the bleacher steel structure has been erected since our last meeting and the sanitary sewer line has been installed as of today (June 8),” Gober said at the Graham Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, June 8.

Work that is scheduled to be done in June and July includes installation of the press box, bleacher panels, underground electrical, above ground electrical, underground plumbing, elevator tower, above ground lights, concrete foundation, masonry walls and concrete flatwork. At the beginning of August, work is set to be done on the asphalt parking lot, and in mid-August the elevator delivery and installation will begin by Otis Elevators.

“The good thing, even on being behind, is the first home game is Sept. 2, so we still have to meet that, but worse case scenario if it doesn’t, is we have the egress into the stadium like we’ve always have, we have stairs and have a way into the press box,” GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse said. “I have already talked to (Jason) Cottongame, and they are not going to not let us use the stadium because that (the elevator) is not there.”

The new bleacher area spans 80 yards across the field and ends at each of the 5 yard lines, according to Gober. The home side lights for the stadium are currently resting inside the frame of the steel structure and will be moved, Cruse said.

“The piers have been poured for that,and they are curing. And when they cure,they will bring a crane out to move them,” Cruse said.

The phases laid out by BTC include: phase one continuing the wall and foundation work, and in phase two, the underground water and sanitary sewer will be completed, along with the underground electrical and concrete flatwork.

“We have got to finish phase one, which they have not been able to do because of the weather, but he (the contractor) is coming tomorrow to start the foundation for the wall, and the guy is coming Monday to do the wall around the restroom in those two small little areas. And then in phase two we have underground water and sewer and the sanitary sewer is in and the water he will put down very quickly it doesn’t take long to do that,” Gober said. “The underground electrical will be done before completion day on Monday, he is coming Thursday or Friday to start getting all the underground electrical work in. Then the concrete flatwork will occur after we get all the underground done and he is scheduled to be through before the end of June too.”

Along with the construction of the bleachers and press box, the council approved during their last meeting to allow Paragon Sports to replace the turf on the Newton Field and make track repairs, which according to Cruse, will begin around June 27. These repairs were needed due to the fact that the artificial turf surface of the field is 10 years old.

Other agenda items:

- The junior high had flooding in the gym last month due to the rains, and the district is still in the process of evaluating the floor to see if it can be saved. Because of the type of leak, Cruse does not know if the school’s insurance will cover the cost if a replacement floor is necessary. Cruse said in case they have to replace the floor, a special budget meeting will be called in order to make those changes.

- The council approved budget amendments for Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott LLP, 2012 #1 Audit and 2013 PVS Appea.

- The council approved a budget amendments related to the demolition and reconstruction of Newton Field Stadium. Pending insurance claim reimbursements the school must amend the budget to allow for timely payment for services rendered during the demolition and reconstruction process. Amounts which were approved by the board were $45,173 to Cove Plumbing, $99,927 to Davis Electrical, $119,650 to J.D.S. Contractors, $5,000 to Kramer Construction and $18,000 for miscellaneous equipment that was lost in the fire at Newton Field Stadium.

- The council approved granting the superintendent the authority to hire and issue contracts to fill open teaching positions from June 9 to Aug. 10. The item was brought forth because, if passed, it increases the district’s chances of having teachers in all the classrooms for the first day of school.

- The council approved the 2016-2017 board meeting dates with the next meeting occurring on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the GISD Administration Building.

- The board previously approved an addition to their policy DEC (local) to provide a reimbursement for leave upon retirement. The teachers receive $75 a day for a maximum of 50 days upon retirement upon certain conditions. The board approved adding the criteria that contract employees must complete the current academic school year, contract employees must provide a written notice by Feb. 1 and non-contract employees must provide written notice within 30 days before the day of employment. Another addition is that the employee can not have taken more than 15 days in the year of retirement to qualify for reimbursement, with the exception of leave taken for family and medical purposes or religious holy days.