Owego School Project Should Be Completed in December

Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]Construction work on the new Owego Elementary School project is expected to be finished in two months.

Planning for the $72 million project started shortly after the 2011 flood destroyed the former elementary school.

Owego-Apalachin school superintendent William Russell said all that remains to be done now is finishing work.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Russell said the completed building is scheduled to be turned over to the school district on December 14.

The superintendent said students and teachers are expected to start classes at the new school during the first week of January. Until then, about 485 students will continue to travel to their temporary school site in West Corners.

Russell said floors throughout the building still must be ground down and polished. He said the hardwood flooring in the gymnasium is being installed now. Cabinets, ceilings and light fixtures are being put in place in classrooms.

Parking lots and roads on the site were being paved on October 15.

The superintendent said 130 to 140 people are "working long hours every day" at the site making final preparations for the school.

Russell said he met with project managers on October 14 and was assured they can meet the timeline that's been established.

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