Foundation and footing work continues at the site of the new Syracuse Elementary School on Kern Road. The weather has been cooperative enough to allow work to be ahead of schedule.

SYRACUSE — Skiers, snowmobilers and anyone who likes snow or colder weather has been disappointed this month. But a mild and warmer late fall, even with a couple of days topping 60 degrees, bodes well for outdoor construction work.

Mother Nature’s kindness has allowed for work to progress ahead of schedule on the new Syracuse Elementary School on Kern Road. Bob Lahrman, director of support services for the Wawasee Community School Corp., said the short range plan is for work to continue through at least the end of December.

“It’s all up to Mother Nature,” Lahrman said, concerning whether or not work can progress even into January. Typically the months of January and February are colder and snowier and construction projects not yet ready to move inside into a building with a roof will shut down.

Moving dirt at the site began Oct. 5. Since then, footers and foundation walls have been installed in what is known as the F section, or what will be locker rooms, the kitchen and restrooms. It is on the east end of the site. Piping work has also been done in this section.

F section was chosen as a starting point because it is the furthest point and will allow equipment to continue to be driven in. A portion of an outside wall extending from the F section has been completed.

Footer and foundation work has started in the C section, which will include the office complex, learning resources center and multi-purpose room. Lahrman said the intent is to get as much of the foundation and wall work done as possible before shutting down for the winter so the masons will have something to work with in the spring.

Conduits have been pulled in for the electric power to feed the building, Lahrman said. Another conduit has been pulled in for communications such as fiber optics. Sanitary sewer work is being done along Kern Road.

The water line has been installed around the site, though it will likely be the spring before the tap is made. And a portion of the driveway and parking lot work has been completed.

For the first few weeks of the project, those passing by on Kern Road probably only noticed large piles of dirt. But since then, the weather has opened the door for progress to be made. “A lot of cement trucks have been pouring concrete,” Lahrman noted. “Quite a bit of work has been done.”

He said a meeting is scheduled to be held Wednesday, Jan. 6, to assess the status of the project. At that time, depending on the weather of course, a determination should be made as to how much longer site work can carry on.

Fetters Construction, based in Auburn, is the overall contractor for the project.