PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Taylor Creek Elementary School construction in the eastern part of the county is progressing right on schedule. The facility is earmarked for a May completion. It's going like gangbusters. That's how Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers characterized the construction progress at Taylor Creek Elementary School in the east end of the county.

And with the weather cooperative for the most part, the Lampasas Independent School District official said building is on schedule, and he anticipates completion at the end of May.

Work on inside cinderblock walls is almost finished, utilities are tied in, and roof work is soon to begin.

Outside work on cinderblock walls also will soon begin, the superintendent said.

Myers noted that fire protection systems, electrical and plumbing projects are going in, and curbing is finished.

All road work is completed, with the exception of asphalt, which will be the last thing done to protect it from heavy equipment moving on and off the construction site, he said.

Myers attempts to visit the site at least once each week, and as with the new high school on U.S. Highway 281 South, dramatic changes can be seen on subsequent trips.

Twice-monthly visits with the construction manager also keep the school official up to date on progress.

"We are extremely pleased with how things are going," Myers said.

The superintendent said copies of the map that shows boundaries for each of the three elementary campuses (Taylor Creek, Kline Whitis and Hanna Springs), as well as policy connected to the division, will be available soon on the school's Web site. And letters will go to parents after the Christmas break explaining how they can determine the school their child is set to attend in the 2009-10 term.

"I am pleased with how the committee worked on the boundaries for the school district and how they came out," said Myers. "The committee did an excellent job. There was a lot of discussion that went into it. It has a good, solid foundation and a well-written policy supporting it."

School administrators next will tackle the division of teachers among each campus. "That's probably harder than the zoning."

Each of the three campuses will have the same programs and class offerings. And with the addition of the third elementary school in the district, Myers said more personnel will be needed to staff the Kempner school.

"We will have to have a counselor, librarian, a nurse, secretarial staff, maintenance workers, cafeteria staff, support personnel -- all the things that go along with staffing a new campus," he said.

Though teacher requests for placement will be taken into account, Myers said the bottom line is, "We have to do what's best for our kids. That's what it's all about, and that's why we're all here."

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At the new high school site, cold weather has delayed several projects. Myers said in belowfreezing temperatures, mortar freezes and is unable to be utilized. That has held up work on exterior walls.

"But there, progress also is smooth," he said.

Workers are pouring the third section of the basketball bleachers in one of the gyms.

After a final section is poured, the building will be able to be closed in, Myers said.

All windows are installed in the classroom portion of the building, and work on library windows is continuing.

The roof is on the field house, and curb is being poured on the track. Tennis courts are slated to go in early next year.

The Career and Technology Education building is framed in, the roof is on, and insulation is going on the outer walls. The split-face block is about 70 percent complete, said Myers.

"We are on schedule there, and as long as the weather cooperates, we should be OK."