LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Wilkerson Elementary School students and staff who were planning to start the school year in a new building will have to wait, according to a news release sent out on Wednesday. The new building failed to pass a Louisville Metro government building inspection on Tuesday, meaning no certificate of occupancy will be issued in time for the first day of school on Aug. 10.
Jefferson County Public Schools is planning to reopen Watson Lane Elementary, which closed at the end of the 2021-22 school year, as a temporary home for learning for Wilkerson students.
Just last week, Marrillia Design and Construction, the general contractor for the project, assured JCPS officials that Wilkerson would be completed in time for the first day of classes. However, building inspectors determined construction was incomplete and not far enough along to allow occupancy. The biggest issue is the roof, which they say is not finished.
“This is extremely disappointing,” said Dr. Marty Pollio, superintendent of JCPS. “The contractor assured us that the building would be completed on time. I apologize to the Wilkerson families for this unacceptable pause in their excitement about moving into a new building.”
JCPS and Wilkerson administrators will be update families on the arrangements being made for students. JCPS is in the process of preparing Watson Lane to, once again, serve as a learning environment for students. District transportation leaders are also reworking bus routes to accommodate all students, especially those who planned to walk to the new school.
“While I’m disheartened that we won’t be opening our school year in a new building, I can assure Wilkerson families that regardless of the structure we’re in, great teaching and learning will be going on inside,” said Sara Alvey, Wilkerson principal.
Students who attended Wilkerson and Watson Lane elementary schools will go to the new school when it opens. The expect about 550 students will attend the school.
The 82,532 square-foot, $17 million school is being built on a tract of JCPS-owned land directly behind the old Wilkerson Elementary School in southwest Louisville, which was recently torn down.
JCPS officials are hoping the construction will be completed, and new staff and students will be able to move into the new school in a matter of weeks.