May 8, 2023

Stadium Update

The stadium work in April includes final site grading, seeding of grass, planting of landscape trees, and
joint sealing of the parking lots. Upcoming work that can now be done due to warmer temperatures is final plumbing and installation of the irrigation pumping system, sod installation on the practice field, painting and caulking at the concession building, paint striping and signage of the parking lots.

FMI Update

Recent construction work at FMI includes window installation, underground utility lines, metal stud framing, and mechanical and electrical rough ins. May work will include sheetrock, ceiling grid, and mechanical screen wall installations.

Parkview Update

Site grading and foundation work have begun at Parkview. Underground plumbing work will begin this week. Schedules are being finalized and material submittals and systems are being reviewed for approval.

Stadium Update

Groundbreaking is set for May 24.

April 10, 2023

Stadium Update

The facility is well in use for the spring sports after state and local inspections have been completed. Some final loose ends are being wrapped up by Larson Construction such as access controls, security cameras, and sound system speakers for the visitor bleachers. Site work that will continue in April include final grading, seeding, sodding, and landscape plantings.

FMI Update

Work is progressing well at the secured entry addition. The concrete floors have been poured, load bearing CMU walls are complete, and structural steel has been set. In the next two weeks the bar joists, metal decking and roofing will be installed. The exterior brickwork is ongoing, with exterior windows and doors ready to follow. Interior walls, mechanical, electrical work will begin in May. Preparations are being made to complete the parking lot changes after school is out.

Parkview Elementary Update

Perimeter fencing has been installed and expect excavating equipment to move back in this week. Garling Construction will have a pre-construction meeting on April 11 th and will submit their preliminary construction schedule at that time.

March 20, 2023

Stadium Update

At the concession building, final paint touch up, fixtures and equipment have been installed and is ready for service at our first home event. The elevator installation is taking place with state and city inspections scheduled. Press box finishes, access controls and electrical work is being wrapped up. Scoreboard training took place last week while soccer practice was being held on the new turf. Bob Scott spied the stadium lights shining on the complex during his early morning rounds. The school logo signs have been installed on the elevator shaft walls. Seeding, sodding, landscaping, and final sitework will follow as weather allows.

FMI Update

At FMI, concrete foundation work is complete (with much better soil conditions than the first phase). Masonry walls are going up, with underground utilities on deck next. Crews will take advantage of spring break to wrap up some access controls, lighting, and other interior items at the addition.

February 13, 2023

Stadium Update
January work at the stadium has focused primarily on electrical and technology installations at multiple locations. The scoreboard has been powered up along with play clocks and stadium lights. The sound system will be installed this week. Final trim and painting continues at the concession building and pressbox. The elevator installation is scheduled to be completed by mid March, so all systems will be ready for the first home event at the facility.

Francis Marion Intermediate Update
January work at FMI included the demolition of the 1955 addition and hauling away of the debris. The building area grading will take place after demolition. Concrete footing and foundation work for the new secured entry addition will be installed during the second half of February.

Parkview Bidding
The bids for our new elementary building are due on 2/23. General Contractor interest is solid, and the completed sitework will be a boost for construction scheduling.

Auditorium Bidding
Final plans are completed and bids will be received on 3/2. Good work sessions with the Architect helped to finish the design and function of the project.

January 9, 2023

Francis Marion Intermediate Update
FMI construction took center stage in December to complete interior finishes, painting, and inspections to allow for staff occupancy to take place on schedule on 12/21. The staff and students now have full access to the addition area. Asbestos removal is taking place in the 1955 addition and demolition will begin for the next phase in late January.

Stadium Update
Work continues at the concession building with stainless steel serving counters being installed, along with door frames and toilet partitions. Metal roofing and fascia work continues as well. The new transformer has been installed so that electrical systems now can be finalized. At the pressbox, interior sheathing is being installed over the insulated walls. Exterior metal roof panels are scheduled to be completed this month, as is roof work at the elevator. Elevator installation is scheduled for later in January. There will be site work to be completed in the early spring, such as sod at the practice field and landscape work.

Parkview Site
Rathje Excavating has completed the demolition and site grading of the Parkview site and it is now ready for spring construction. Several contractors have expressed interest to OPN Architects in the project.

December 11, 2022

Francis Marion Intermediate Update
Finishing touches are being made to the interior of the FMI addition with acoustic sound panels, heating and cooling units, communication and tech systems being installed. Quality inspections, operation training, and testing will take place this month. FMI staff will have access to the rooms starting next week to prepare for student occupancy at the first of the year.

Stadium Update
Interior work continues on the concession building with stainless steel counters, toilet partitions, and fixtures. Exterior doors arrive this week to seal the openings. The press box windows have been installed and stud framing and electrical work is taking place inside. Exterior metal wall panels and roofing will be completed yet this month. The north and south parking lots have been completed along with the curved drive in front of the stadium. The shot put and discus platform areas are in place. Upcoming training of all mechanical and electrical systems is being organized along with scoreboard operation. Permanent fencing is scheduled to be completed this month. 

Parkview Sitework
Site demolition and grading continues this month and will be complete by the end of the year.

November 21, 2022

Parkview Sitework
Rathje Construction has mobilized and begun demolition work of the Parkview site. They will continue with grading the site up to the building elevation level by the end of the year.

Stadium Update
October work at the stadium included the completion of grandstand detailing, pressbox framing and sheathing, and concrete paving of the north parking lot. The scoreboard has been installed along with miscellaneous grading and seeding. The final urethane top coat of the track has been installed and the lane markings were painted on literally just before a turn in the weather. Ongoing November work includes roofing and interior finish at the pressbox, roofing and installation of toilet and food service fixtures at the concession building, perimeter fencing, and as much sitework and seeding that weather allows. Substantial completion of building work is slated to be completed by the end of the year, while some final grading, seeding, and sod will be in early spring.

Francis Marion Intermediate Update
October work included painting and installation of new cabinets and sinks in classrooms, fixture installation and flooring in the restrooms, ceiling grid, tiles, and lockers in the corridors. November work will be installation of new furniture, equipment training and inspections prior to staff occupancy at the end of the month. Student occupancy is still planned for the end of the year.

October 10, 2022

Stadium Update
September work included the construction of the masonry elevator shaft, grandstand installation, and turf on the athletic field. Concrete parking lots are nearing completion along with miscellaneous sidewalks. The scoreboard foundations have been poured and topsoil has been spread over the new seeding areas. The concession building interior work continued.

Upcoming stadium work will be the urethane track surface install, lane striping, setting of goal posts and scoreboard. The press box will be installed along with east entry gates and fencing. The concession building will receive the metal roof and interior painting.

Francis Marion Intermediate Update
FMI work in September included exterior grading, sidewalks, and rubber playground surface installation. Interior work included sheetrock, window and door frames, painting, and mechanical work. 

October will see interior finishes, flooring, and equipment installation.

September 8, 2022

Substantial completion of both projects remains scheduled for November.

Stadium Update
August has been a productive month at the Stadium project. The visitor bleachers have been installed, concrete slabs and sidewalks have been poured, and perimeter fencing has been started. Final grading of the sub base for the athletic field is underway. The asphalt track base is being installed as is the concrete block elevator shaft. The home grandstand and press box will follow the masonry. At the concession stand and restroom building, interior rough-ins of mechanical and electrical is ongoing prior to painting later this month.

September 8, 2022

FMI Update
Above ceiling work at the existing building was completed in time for the start of school. Interior work continues at the addition with metal stud walls along with mechanical and electrical install.  Door and window frames are being installed. Outside, underground utility work continues along with grading and installation of playground equipment.

August 8, 2022 Construction Update

Stadium Update

July began with installing the filter fabric above the stabilized soil of the athletic field. A grid of flat panel drain tile was then laid out and connected to a 12” round drain on the inside perimeter of the track. Installation of 7000 tons of rock base followed to bring the grade up within inches of the final height required under the shock pad and turf. The concrete curb and slot drain system is being installed along the inside perimeter of the track. The concrete slab has been poured for the visitor bleachers and concrete foundation piers for the home grandstand are well underway. At the concession and restroom building, the exterior CMU walls are complete, while the interior plumbing and masonry are proceeding. The roof framing is also nearing completion with a metal roof to follow. Sections of the grandstand will arrive this month and the elevator shaft foundation work is starting.

July 7, 2022 Construction Update

Stadium Update
June saw the completion of the soil stabilization under the athletic field and track areas. The next step in the process will be installing a layer of filter fabric, a grid of drainage tile, and utilities under the final rock base for the turf and track. This work will continue through July. Other site work included the setting of the light poles for the stadium and removing approximately 1500 dump truck loads of excess soil on the perimeter of the area. The extremely flat field surface requires pumping out any rainwater that accumulates. The concession buildings are taking shape with concrete block walls nearing completion along with underground plumbing. The floor slabs are scheduled for July installation. At the grandstand area, the elevator pit and concrete foundations will follow at the end of the month after completion of the concession floor slabs

FMI Update
At the FMI addition, the concrete block walls have been completed along with setting the structural steel beams. The bar joists and metal deck are being installed. Roofing will be installed this month along with the poured concrete roof of the storm shelter. The weather vapor barrier is being applied to the exterior walls ahead of the brickwork, which should start next week. Site work includes underground utilities. The interior above ceiling upgrades continue with mechanical and electrical installations along with sprinkler pipe.

June 13, 2022 Construction Update

Stadium Update
The track and athletic field is now ready for soil stabilization. This is a process of blending in Portland cement with the top layer of soil to harden the surface prior to adding the crushed stone layers for drainage under the turf and track. Rain has delayed this process a bit, but Larson has taken steps to drain the field so the stabilization can be done the week of June 20. Underground utility work will begin at the same time. The concession building foundations are nearing completion and will be followed up with backfill to allow for underground plumbing to be installed along with construction of the exterior masonry walls. The grandstand foundations are on deck for the concrete crews yet this month. Excess topsoil is being loaded out and taken off site. Material approvals and procurement are on track.

FMI Update
Exterior CMU walls are nearing completion. This will allow installation of the bar joists and decking to begin yet in June. Roofing will follow in July. The masons will install interior CMU walls for the safe room and classrooms after they complete the exterior walls. Interior remodeling of the existing building has begun with above ceiling electrical and mechanical upgrades. Underground utility work also continues. 

May 9, 2022 Construction Update

Stadium Update
The south parking lot extension has been excavated down to grade. Compaction tests will be done this week along with the rock sub base. This area will be used for additional staging of construction materials until paving is installed. Mass excavation of the athletic field will continue this week along with finishing the install of soil and lime for the building pad of the concession building. The concrete crews from FMI will shift to the concession building foundation work next week. Underground utilities will follow, and masonry materials will arrive later this month with exterior wall construction next up. The grandstand area has been surveyed and laid out. The concrete crews will move from the concession building foundations to the elevator shaft foundations. Material submittals and procurement remains on track.

FMI Update
Interior wall concrete foundations are being installed along with remaining underground plumbing. The first course of concrete block walls have been completed on the exterior walls. The concrete floor slab is scheduled to be installed this week, utilizing a pump truck for the two-day process. Concrete block exterior walls will follow, with about a six-week duration. Preparations and material procurement is ongoing for the phase 1A remodel area, which will begin with mechanical and electrical rough in work after school lets out for summer.

On March 2, 2021, Marion Independent School District asked registered voters in the district to vote on a referendum that would allow the district to secure funding to pay for the first phase of a long-range facility plan developed by a facility advisory committee of district residents. This plan was passed and is being partially funded by the voter passed $31 million general obligation bond.

Marion Independent School District is committed to fostering a community of learners in developing the knowledge and skills to be future ready. This promise is reflected both in the learning and teaching that takes place in our buildings every day. It is also manifested in the investments made at Longfellow Elementary and Vernon Middle School in the last 11 years.

However, our three oldest buildings – Marion High School, Francis Marion Intermediate, and Starry Elementary School – as well as Thomas Park need repair and/or do not meet current needs of our students and educators. This deterioration will only continue, while the cost of this project will continue to increase with time. Without improvement to these facilities, we also cannot address inequities in the district between opportunities for students who attend the newer facilities compared to older ones. 

We will also be providing our students with learning environments – including an auditorium and outdoor activities complex – on par with their peers in other area districts, arming them with opportunities that will prepare them for their next chapter.

Because the MISD Board and district leadership have been careful stewards of both taxpayer and state revenue streams, the district can address needs at  Marion High School, Francis Marion Intermediate, Thomas Park and for district elementary students without raising taxes.