Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Construction Delays First Day of Classes at Nebraska Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/30/22

Ada Robinson Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb., had its first day of school on Monday, August 29—two weeks later than planned. The newly built elementary school was originally scheduled to open its doors to students on August 15, but construction delays forced the district to reconsider, according to local news.

On Friday, August 5, just hours after a media tour of the new facility, Superintendent Paul Gausman sent a letter to parents announcing the decision. “Out of an abundance of caution, I do not feel we will be ready to safely open the school building to students on August 15,” he said in the letter. “In order to ensure the safety of all our staff and students, we need to allow the construction team extra time to finish the core areas.”

One wing of the school is still under construction even after the building’s opening, as well as the playground and an open outdoor grassy area, local news reports. These final projects were always intended to continue through the fall, said Lincoln Public Schools.

“We knew when the project started that Robinson always faced a tight and challenging construction timeline amid a global pandemic which caused supply chain challenges and labor shortages,” said Gausman.

The district also announced that, in order to make up the lost time and meet instructional time requirements, the school day will be extended by 17 minutes for the remainder of the school year. Also, it will not offer an early release for the first week of school, unlike all the other schools in the district.

The new facility covers about 85,000 square feet and has capacity for 528 students, according to the district website. About 290 students are projected to attend during the first year. The PreK–5 facility was named after longtime respected district teacher Ada Robinson, who surprised students and staff on the first day of school to welcome them to their new home.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).