Work continues on Asheboro’s middle school project

Construction work has been ongoing at South Asheboro Middle School as part of an Asheboro City Schools project. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO — The largest current facilities project involving Asheboro City Schools is ongoing at South Asheboro Middle School.

The district’s board of education approved a contract amendment with Bobbitt Construction during the spring for the next phase of work.

Based on information provided by Chandra Manning, director of communications and talent development for Asheboro schools, this project is the focal point of the district’s active projects. She said there are no minor projects of note for this summer.

The work at the middle school is extensive, including work scheduled for this summer.

“We’re going to do the majority of the construction during the summers,” said Baxter Hammer, chair of the Asheboro City Board of Education. “The downside of this is it’s going to take longer.”

But there should minimal interruptions to the daily routines on the campus.

Hammer said there are indications that the work is ahead of schedule even though it will involve parts of three summers. He said this set-up allows the district to avoid leasing mobile units to use as classrooms, something that is an expense without long-term value.

A contract with Bobbitt Construction previously only included design and testing expenses. The amended contract includes the entire construction expenses, Manning said.

That includes installation of a new elevator (perhaps in early August) and installation of a new staircase to the second floor from the gym lobby.

The project list also includes the beginning of exterior curtain wall replacement, continued demolition of classroom flooring on the second floor and installation of new case work and renovation of the mechanical and electrical systems and ceilings on that floor.

Meanwhile, expansion of the cafeteria has commenced and will continue through the upcoming school year. That part of the project includes the addition of a second-floor lounge.

Water fountains are to be replaced throughout the building.

The full project will span five phases, with completion expected by summer 2027.

The middle school project comes on the heels of a years-long renovation of Asheboro High School, which is located across the street from the middle school. That renovation was large in scale and completion of the work extended beyond the originally stated time frame.

Hammer said delays were largely tied to available materials during the pandemic. He said the district received a funding grant from the state to help in launching the middle school project.