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RACINE — The walls are going up and the project is on schedule.

That is the word from Southern Superintendent Tony Deem on the progress of the Southern High School building project.

“The walls are going up,” noted Deem. “That’s what everyone wants to see and when that happens the entire atmosphere starts to develop in a positive manner. People in the community are excited and we are too.”

Deem noted that the project is on target to finish before the 2013-2014 school year as previously anticipated. Although the walls are just now starting to be built, Deem noted that months of site preparation, relocation of utilities and soil samples have been ongoing in the development of the site.

Deem wanted to dispel rumors that the project was not on target. He explained that the re-bidding of the project did delay the start of the construction somewhat, but that the completion of the school is on schedule. He noted that the contractor Kinsale Corp. has been working diligently to keep the project on track.

“There are always circumstances, including weather challenges that could come up, but that is to be expected. Right now our focus is moving forward with this school year, meeting the new challenges that new Ohio Department of Education has laid for us, and most of all teaching our children.”

Southern is incorporating the new Core Curriculum in 2012-2013 which evolves around a new set of standards. Much planning, some of which was made possible by Race to the Top funding, allowed Southern to implement at many grade levels well ahead of many districts statewide.

“With the construction project in progress, our administration and staff are busier that usual, and with new state standards our teachers have had to work hard to adjust. Everyone is working together though with the final goal in mind, and folks are sharing the load.”

As for the changes to the pickup and drop off at the beginning of this school year, Deem said, “parents and students have developed a routine.”

A new drop off loop for the buses was built in the rear of the current elementary school, and business as usual is the attitude the district is taking. Parents dropping off students in the morning were displaced to the Racine United Methodist Church.

While the walls have just recently started going up, “a lot of work has taken place that no one really notices,” said Deem. “It’s times like now when you can physically see the building going up that people know progress is being made.”

“We are all working hard to make sure we have something to be proud of for years to come.”