pPOTSDAM — While work on Potsdam Central School’s capital project slowly draws to a close, the district’s search for two new principals has been put on hold, while officials wait for a more favorable season to advertise./ppAccording to a recent report from construction management company Watchdog Building Partners, work on the district’s $18 million capital project is now nearly complete./ppThe report indicated that 99 percent of punch list items at the elementary and middle schools are finished, as are exterior plantings, roof work and basement drains at the high school. Also at the high school, the auditorium’s air handler is now working, and sills and blinds have been installed throughout the 1929 wing./ppOutstanding work planned for February includes punch list items at all schools, as well as installation of carpeting at the middle and high schools, work on the middle school’s loading dock, and fire alarm, temperature control and pipe insulation work at the high school. Contractors will also be repairing retention ponds and replacing overhead doors at the district’s bus garage./ppAccording to the report, $14,056,228 of a total $15,686,472 has been spent on phase two of the project. A total of $1,630,244 remains, a combination of contingency, incidental cost and construction contract funds./ppDistrict Superintendent Joann M. Chambers reported Tuesday that carpeting is expected to be installed in the middle and high school libraries and high school band room over February break, while renovations to the elementary school nurse’s office, which began last week, is also on track for completion next month./pp“That’s going to be a few more weeks out,” she said. “We’re definitely thinking everything will be wrapped up by April.”/ppMrs. Chambers said the high school’s boilers, which have not been clicking on properly as expected, are being monitored by district staff, and PCS is working with contractors Siemens Industry, Lorraine, and Burns Bros,, Syracuse, to remedy the problems./ppMeanwhile, the search for new principals at the elementary and high school has been put on hold by the Board of Education, according to Mrs. Chambers./ppShe said board members made a strategic decision to suspend the searches until Feb. 15, when they will advertise aggressively during what is considered the best time of year for gathering a pool of applicants. A deadline for the searches has been set for March 15./ppMrs. Chambers said the district will advertise for both positions in Northern and Central New York through school boards across the state, the School Administrators Association of New York State, local newspapers, and colleges that offer administration programs, such as St. Lawrence University and SUNY Oswego./ppIn the meantime, the district will rely on the interim principals already in place. /ppMrs. Chambers said former Malone Central School District Superintendent Wayne Walbridge took over for retired administrator Julie N. Welch as interim principal at the elementary school, and is working out well./ppHigh School Athletic Director and Dean of Students Mark Wilson began as interim in that building Jan. 4, having been preceded by retired Colton-Pierrepont Central Principal Randy Johnson, according to high school principal secretary Lory D. Richard. /ppMr. Johnson will return as interim in April./p
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