In any construction project there are bound to be surprises – but Skanska Project Manager David Griggs never expected the one that greeted him with the New Year.
“Someone broke in and stole Twinkies,” he said laughing.
That’s right, Twinkies. Griggs explained that in January, an unknown number of individuals entered the construction area in the rear of the building near the gymnasium. As far as could be determined, the thieves then entered the original middle school building through an existing door and proceeded to a storage closet adjacent to the original cafeteria, not the mobile.
“They broke into a storage room there where the snack foods are kept and stole Twinkies and donuts,” said Griggs. “I think it’s hilarious. Of all the things there to steal, they took Twinkies.”
Construction on the new high school is moving steadily forward. The swimming pool was filled with water this past week to check for leaks and the tile is currently being placed. The elevated running track is set in the gymnasium, and workers are preparing to install the flooring.
The auditorium, tentatively scheduled for completion around Christmas, already has the steel in place and will be enclosed within the next month.
“By the beginning of the 2004 school year we’ll just be finishing the pool area, and the athletic fields will still have grass growing in, but will be ready to use,” said Griggs.
The “big switch” between Oxford High School and Middle School will take place over several moving sessions this summer.
At the last regular board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Ron Franey said that some of the classrooms will move in June right after school releases for the summer. Others, such as the autoshop and main offices, will move closer to the start of the 2004-2005 school year.