The Wright City R-II School District Board of Education held a workshop and special meeting on June 4. While they did discuss an approved change order from Wright Construction Services, minimal changes were made and should not affect students occupying the new high school in January 2025. 

Like most long-term construction projects, unexpected delays popped up. Early on in the project, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources paused construction for nearly seven months on the outside of the building due to the finding of an endangered bat. 

After a bat study, DNR gave the green light to resume work outside of the building. Due to the delay, work on the football, softball and baseball field are projected to be finished in March 2025.

This will not interfere with students moving in at the beginning of the second semester next school year. 

“We might have some very limited use of the football field and with a little bit of hope, we could possibly graduate there next year,” Superintendent Chris Berger said. 

Berger noted the baseball and softball field will not be in use for the spring season, while soccer could have a slim chance, however the board is not banking on it. 

The board went over the contract sum which has increased by $55,220, mostly due to the rainy weather Wright City has endured this spring which resulted in days lost for construction work. 

The cost increase also included an electrical issue that needed to be fixed and one area of the school that needed to install metal studs and drywall to reach the main gas service entry. 

Despite the small bumps, everything is still on schedule but Wright Construction has moved deadlines for completion in case other issues arise.

As of right now, the substantial completion date for the building is December 19. Sustainable completion will allow furniture to be moved in. The final completion date, which allows for occupancy, was moved to January 19, 2025. However Wright Construction believes they will work ahead of these deadlines.

It is also anticipated that various areas of the building will be done well before December. 

“What has spooked us all is the amount of rain lately,” Berger said. “Wright Construction certainly has the rationale and reasons to put those delays on, but they still believe they are going to work ahead of that schedule.”

For the past five years, Missouri has been facing a minor long-term drought. In the past few months, most of the state is now out of this drought due to the immense amount of rain seen this spring. 

Missouri has also experienced its 15th-wettest April since 1895. 

“Of course any future rain can impact [the deadlines], but as of right now we’re still optimistic that we will get in there in January,” Berger said.