By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Indian River School District’s new state-of-the-art Howard T. Ennis School is taking shape on Patriots Way across from the Sussex Central High School campus.

However, planned occupancy by Ennis pupils and staff for the start the 2022-23 school year has been pushed back to early January 2023.

“With the considerations associated with furniture deliveries, and time lost due to roof insulation materials, the amended date to transition to our new building is now Jan. 3, 2023,” IRSD Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens announced at the April 25 board of education meeting.

Given current material shortages in the construction world, the move could not be made as originally planned from the current Ennis School, based in a building owned by Delaware Technical Community College, to the new $45 million campus.

Initially, the target date for competition was May 2022. That was subsequently moved to August — and now January 2023.

“It is disappointing. We had hoped to occupy the building at the start of next school year,” Dr. Owens said. “That said, we do not want to rush getting into the building. We’d rather move in once everything is ready for us.”

“We are disappointed that we are not in the building a little bit sooner. But the material deliveries, and shipping and everything that is going on right now in today’s world is very difficult,” said Brad Cowen of R.Y. Johnsons and Sons Inc., the district’s construction management firm for the project. “We did experience a six to eight month delay in roofing materials. Materials that were supposed to be here last August are now finally appearing. So, we do plan on having the building complete by the end of October.”

Furniture deliveries are scheduled for the latter part of November.

“All of that will be set up. The staff will be able to move in the middle of December … set up their classrooms the week before Christmas, then go away for Christmas break and come back on Jan. 3 ready to go,” said Mr. Cowen.

Howard T. Ennis School provides services to all students (ages preschool through 21) with significant disabilities within the Indian River School District and sending districts that demonstrate a need for highly specialized educational support.

The entire Ennis project is covered 100% by state funding.

No additional delays that could impact the school opening are anticipated.

“We’re a little bit fortunate with this project because we have all the materials now. If you look at material deliveries on projects moving forward, you’re looking at electrical/mechanical equipment could be possibly a year out,” said Mr. Cowen. “It is just a matter of Mother Nature cooperating and we put enough manpower on the job to put the materials in that we have now. We have everything that we need. We just need to push to the end.”

“Obviously, we don’t want to move into a building that is not completed, especially this building. So, we feel it is very important that the building be completed,” Mr. Cowen said. “We want to be practical and want to be honest and up front with you on what works.”

Dr. Owens said the early January date was the most feasible option. “Staff will be able to move in during the week prior and transportation will be able to be adjusted at that point,” he said.

IRSD board president Rodney Layfield inquired about the budget status for the Ennis School.

“Per the budget we are fine. Budget-wise we are in really good shape,” said Dr. Owens.

“From a budget standpoint I think you’re in really good shape,” said Mr. Cowen, noting the excellent work of Fearn-Clendaniel Architects Inc. “We’re doing really good with change orders. Actually, the percentage is very low.”

Longtime IRSD board of education member Dr. Donald Hattier agreed.

“This is substantially better than what we had when we were building the two high schools 20-odd years ago where there were major change orders coming in all the time, to the point where it was getting aggravating and exceedingly expensive,” said Dr. Hattier. “This one we have seen nothing on that scale from 20 years ago. So, whoever is doing the legwork and planning ahead is doing a very nice job.”