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Staff scrambles to get new school ready after construction setbacks

By Paul Boyd
By Paul Boyd

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — There are 625 students who are set to start school at Lancaster County’s new Van Wyck Elementary School Monday, but there is concern that construction setbacks could delay the opening of the $23 million building.

Contractors and administrators assured Channel 9 on Friday that the school will be ready to open its doors for the first day of school.

Principal Steven Puckett said a lot of hard work and positive energy has been poured into the project as it moves down the final stretch.

“It’s definitely a little closer of a deadline than what anyone anticipated,” Puckett said.

Contractors and suppliers were still working Friday getting the school ready for students.

Teachers and staff were allowed into the building on Monday, a week before opening day.

Third-grade teacher Jennifer Galbraith is one of the 40 new employees who scrambled to get ready for students.

“I was one of the teachers here at 6 o’clock on Monday morning,” Galbraith said.

Teachers and staff worked virtually nonstop to get to their classrooms and curriculum organized.

Administrators had to push back Meet the Teacher Day to Sunday afternoon.

“It initially was Thursday, but we pushed it back,” Puckett said. “We knew that was the best thing, just so we could be just a little less rushed. (It gives) ourselves a couple more days for some finishing things.”

The last touches included a final coat of wax for the floor, computer network adjustments, final furniture placement and installation of shelving.

The lead contractor told Channel 9 that the project came down to the wire but said many of the delays were out of their control.

Supervisor James Baxley said the biggest problem was the heavy rain in the area from October to May.

“We had one of the wettest years we’ve had in 10 years,” Baxley said.

Another factor in the delay was the shortage of skilled laborers, including electricians and plumbers, due to the construction boom in the Charlotte area.

Despite the delays, teachers and staff were all smiles as they anticipated the inaugural class prepared to attend Van Wyck Elementary School.

“We’re ready and we’re looking forward to a great first day of school,” Galbraith said.

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