Schools open, but projects delayed

Havre schools have their first day today, despite students being somewhat displaced by the ongoing projects at the high school and Sunnyside Intermediate.

Andy Carlson, superintendent of the Havre Public School District, said that the projects at Havre High School and Sunnyside Intermediate School are about a month behind schedule.

Carlson said the middle school parking lot is complete and ready for the first day of school today, but students and faculty are going to have to work around the construction at the other two schools.

"Not having locker rooms at the high school is causing some difficult circumstances for our sports folks, but they're adjusting real well," Carlson said.

The volleyball girls have been practicing at the the middle school while the project is getting finished.

Sunnyside is the biggest concern, since classrooms have been displaced, Carlson said.

Two rooms were being prepared Tuesday to be ready to take students displaced by the renovations to some of the school classrooms. There are a couple of portable classrooms parked outside the school to house the library.

"It's not how you want to start the new year, but we're keeping our eyes on the prize," he said.

Carlson said the timeline originally set up for the projects was an aggressive one, and contractors were not able to meet in.

"I am taking ownership of it, and we're going to do the best we can to get school started," Carlson said.

Despite the trials and tribulations the schools face with the projects, Carlson said they are ready to start the school year.

"Honestly, the folks at Sunnyside - I'm not just saying this - they've done a remarkable job," Carlson said. "Our staff, our secretaries, our custodians, the teachers who are impacted, two of the words they kept saying to me is we're resilient and we're flexible."

Carlson said the faculty and staff have a great plan and are ready to start the new school year.