School may delay opening

It looks like Forestview Middle School in Baxter may open later than expected.

Brainerd Superintendent Jerry Walseth said, during the Brainerd School District's Building Committee meeting Thursday, that "due to the deep frost level from the weather and other factors" the school may not be ready for students until the second semester in the 2004-05 school year, or around January 2005. School officials have been shooting for an opening date of September 2004.

Walseth said enough indicators have shown that the school may not be ready for students for the first day of school. The frost depth has gone beyond expectations making the foundation and footings of the school difficult, Walseth said this morning. He said the frost has made the project more costly and has consumed more of the workers' time.

Walseth said school officials have been optimistic about the timeline and knew it was a tight schedule.

By March the school district will know if the middle school will be ready for the full 2004-05 school year. Walseth said in March enough bids will have been awarded to help determine the completion date of the school.

The committee also heard the projected budget is on target -- $44,783,219 is budgeted, projected expenses are $44,759,725.