By Debbie Robinson

news@joplinglobe.com

SENECA, Mo. — Two major construction projects for the Seneca school district remain on track to be completed in August, according to Rick Cook, superintendent.

Architect Kyle Denham last week told board members that the concrete pad is complete for the new intermediate school, and the pad for the high school work will be done in about two weeks.

“It has been a very wet two weeks, but actually we’ve made a lot of progress with all the rain and water we’ve had,” he said.

The district is building a 39,800-square-foot intermediate school for $10.9 million and adding to the existing high school. The latter work is estimated at $4.4 million, Cook said. Both projects were made possible last year after district voters approved a $10 million bond issue.

Dalton-Killinger Construction Co. is contractor for the two projects.

“I’m amazed at what you have got done,” said Harold DeVoe, one of the board members.

Denham said workers need dry weather in order to pour the second slab toward the end of the month.

“Then rain will not be quite as critical,” he said.

Cook said Friday the new intermediate school will house grades four through six, leaving kindergarten through third grade in the existing elementary school building. Students in grades seven and eight will attend the middle school.

The district has been holding some classes in trailers to accommodate all of its students, Cook said.

“This will allow us to get the kids inside and out of the trailers,” he added. “We have 780 students in the elementary school that was designed for 500 kids.”