Date: Fri 16-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-construction-Posca

Full Text:

Building Supervisor Says High School Will Be Ready

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Dom Posca said he hasn't missed a first day of school since he arrived in

Newtown 13 years ago and he's not about to miss one this year.

The school's building and grounds supervisor is working under the pressure of

an August 29 deadline to get Newtown High School in working order for the

first day of school.

NHS has been turned upside down this summer as work on the school's

multi-million-dollar project is well underway. Backhoes, excavators,

bulldozers, steam rollers and dump trucks crowd the Berkshire Road property,

as do towering mounds of dirt.

Contrary to rumors making the rounds of the school community earlier this

week, problems with asbestos removal inside the school will not delay the

start of school, Mr Posca said Thursday morning.

The removal of the carcinogenic material has been a source of frustration, Mr

Posca admitted, but stressed that it has no bearing on the start of school. In

fact, he's hoping the have the administrative staff back in the school by

Monday with the rest of the faculty returning August 23. NHS administrators

had to move their offices to the middle school this summer while the asbestos

was removed from the high school floors.

Workers have also begun paving portions of the parking lot which used to be

islands. Parking may be tricky this year as the area once used for staff

parking has been completely dug up to be replaced by a 70,000-square-foot

addition.

Currently, there are more than 55 workers on the NHS property, including HVAC

workers, plumbers, fitters, electricians, site people, asbestos removal

workers, and crews from O & G Construction.

On Thursday, digging began in the rear portion of NHS where a new half gym

will be erected.

Also, site work at Hawley School, a bit delayed, was scheduled to commence

this week.