Fremont-Mills facilities nearing completion

TABOR - The Fremont-Mills Community School District’s early childhood development and auditorium additions are nearing the finish line.

Construction began in November 2016 on the $6 million project. The early childhood development center on the building’s east side, which will allow the cramped elementary school to grow and meet the community’s growing pre-school demand, is two to four weeks from completion, according to Fremont-Mills Superintendent Chris Herrick.

The 330-seat auditorium, located on the school’s southwest corner, is scheduled to be completed March 30.

The project also includes substantial changes to the footprint of the school grounds with the addition of 200 more parking stalls adjacent the Lied Gymnasium  and new playground and lighted varsity softball and baseball fields on the east side of the school. The fencing and dugout work is nearly done on the ball fields, with the assistance of the high school shop classes.

Herrick said the school will likely be moved in and fully operational in the early childhood center within the next four weeks.

“They’re getting closer and closer to being done,” Herrick said of the early childhood center. “The HVAC is in, the ceiling is in, and the permanent lighting is in. The casework is going in and next they’re working on the floors.”

Extensive work remains on the auditorium, Herrick said, with the building not yet enclosed and the concrete floor just being poured last week, but the March 30 deadline is still within sight.

“It looks great but there’s always growing pains with any building projects of this size. There always is,” Herrick said. “We’re glad to see all the progress, especially at the early childhood development center, taking shape.”

The original project timeline called for a 12 to 18 month construction window and while the latter is now a reality, there is a bright spot to such a massive project.

“We’re  still on budget,” Herrick said. “That’s the part that makes a superintendent nervous. You want to stay on budget so we’re very happy about that.”

The bulk of the funding for the project was secured through a $3.6 million bond issue passed in September 2016 by district voters. The remaining costs are being  financed through the district’s Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) dollars it receives through a one-cent sales tax levy and an additional $500,000 the district has on hand ear marked for the project.

Rogge Construction out of Lincoln, Neb., is project’s general contractor.

The project is Fremont-Mills’ fourth major renovation since the K-12 building opened in 1969. The district built additions in 1981 and 2004 and added the Lied Gymnasium in 2010.

Herrick said excitement is buzzing in both the building and the community for the public unveiling of the projects. The school is already planning to hold pre-school and kindergarten round-up in the early childhood development center in April.

“We haven’t done any tours yet but it’s been wonderful (response) so far,” Herrick said.

No public ribbon cutting is scheduled currently, Herrick added, but that could change as completion dates of the project solidify over the next few weeks.