Construction crews won't have the South County Secondary School building ready in time for the best-case date of July 15, but will still meet their own Aug. 31 deadline with no problems.
Principal Dale Rumberger said this week he had hoped to be into the building on July 15, and had built planning models around that scenario.
"That may not have been the best decision I made recently," said Rumberger, who said the contractor, Clark Construction, has informed him the school will be ready to be turned over to Fairfax County sometime between July 18 and Aug. 1. Their official deadline is Aug. 31.
"The contractor is working feverishly, and we'll be ready to rock and roll when the faculty arrives," said Rumberger, noting the building will also be available Aug. 8, when practices for fall sports teams officially begin.
Instead of allowing school officials into the building incrementally, as is sometimes the custom, Clark will prepare the entire building, then turn it all over at once. Rumberger said he receives daily updates from Clark on the project's progress.
"Once we get in, we get everything," said Rumberger, who added custodial crews are in the process of waxing and washing those portions of the building where construction crews have finished working.
Construction on the $64-million project began in June 2003. School is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 7, with an open house scheduled for Aug. 29 from 3-7 p.m.