Top: Construction at the front entrance of Fredonia High School, pictured, remains incomplete as the first day of school draws near.

Summer may almost be done, but many portions of the Fredonia High School construction project remain unfinished as the school year quickly approaches.

Fredonia Superintendent Jeffrey Sortisio commented on several areas of construction around the district at the board of education meeting Tuesday. “The drainage is complete (in several areas),” he began initially. “The walking paths around the field, that’s a work in progress, that’s scheduled to be completed in September.”

Sortisio noted ingress and egress had been primarily completed, and also noted, “Ring Road paving is ongoing…the elementary/middle school parking lot is scheduled to be completed August 30.”

On roofing, Sortisio commented, “Wheelock Elementary roofing is scheduled to be completed at the end of the month…The (high school) roofing started before school ended, we didn’t get completed all the way. I’m not concerned with that.”

A newly designed suite at the high school also won’t see completion by the start of the school year, according to Sortisio. “The high school office space that has been vacated and turned into a student services suite will not be completed until October 25.”

Sortisio acknowledged that a majority of the construction was complete, but several areas were not up to par quite yet. “We do have a lot of work complete,” he stated. “I do anticipate some work continuing during the school day, however, it has to be non-invasive.”

The main area of Sortisio’s concerns, however, remains the entryways. “The new high school entryway, and this goes for all the new entryways, are slated to be completed and ready for use August 30, with the exception of the transaction window and subsequent need for an acquired shutter.”

Sortisio went on to say, “Some of the office renovations, there are going to be items that continue through, that’s going to happen…I’m confident that there will be a place for our principals to work, but its those entryways that I lose sleep over.”

Of the new school year, Sortisio also made brief comment. “Honestly, it’s really coming together,” he noted of the construction, adding. “We’re really, really excited to bring students back September 5.”

In other news, the board also approved a number of change orders for ongoing capital projects as follows:

Change Order #ST-5 for the 2017 capital project, reflecting the removal and replacement of concrete at the school events entryway, with an increase in the contract sum of $28,300.

Change Order #ST-6 for the 2017 capital project, reflecting the addition of subbase at North Campus roads, with an increase in the contact sum of $27,958.

Change Order #MC-1 for the 2017 capital project, reflecting additional work to the Nurses’ Office and Home & Careers areas, with an increase in the contract sum of $29,119.

Change Order #GC-3 the 2017 capital project, reflecting labor, equipment and material to replace carpet in the intermediate library, with an increase in the contract sum of $34,170.

A correction in an article on the board that ran yesterday should be noted: Brian Aldrich is now the Fredonia Central School district board of education president.