Although school buildings are closed in the Center (Mo.) district, school construction hasn't stopped.
KSHB-TV reports that the district's new elementary building, Indian Creek, is still on target to be completed next year.
The new 60,000-square-foot school is being built in Kansas City next door to the existing campus.
District leaders said the $20 million building will provide more space and classrooms for both students and teachers.
Indian Creek principal Angela Price says that while it is unfortunate not having students in session, she's glad construction is still moving forward.
"We hate that our students are not able to be in the building, but we know safety first for all of our children our families," Price says.
With no classes in session, the builder, Newkirk Novak Construction Partners, is able to get more accomplished.
"We don’t have the same concerns that we have if kids were in school," says Newkirk Novak Construction President Lynn Newkirk. "So access and deliveries to and from the job site can occur all day long, rather than just during the non-high traffic."
However, there are challenges. With everything at a standstill because of the coronavirus, Newkirk said he's worried about supplies running low within the next couple of weeks.
"I would think those would really start being felt within the next month or two—projects where manufacturing has stopped or slowed down or taking a pause," Newkirk says. "And I think we will start to see those inventories run out, and as we need that material on the job site, we'll be feeling that."
Newkirk said they're also doing what they can to stay safe on the job.
"Face coverings are now being recommended by the CDC, so that something we’re implementing," Newkirk says. "Hand washing stations on the job site, sanitizing areas that are consistently being frequented by the workers—porta-johns and trailers, door knobs and tables where folks might sit around."
