Cave Spring High students may have all week off with construction work behind schedule

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Tuesday was supposed to be the move students and staff at Roanoke County's Cave Spring High School had been preparing for. But the temporary classrooms still aren't ready, the campus is a mess and now they've got nowhere to go. 

This could be another full week off for Cave Spring students. 

A lengthy message was posted on the school's website, alerting students and faculty members that, "As of today, based on the progress of work and weather forecasts for the remainder of the week, we do not anticipate being able to resume classes for the remainder of this week."

The message blames the subcontractors hired to set up the modular campus for not being done in time.

"How do you get them to work when you don't control them other than the fact that we control the purse strings. We're not going to pay until they finish," said Mike Wray, Roanoke County School Board member.

Before classes at the modular campus will begin, the subcontractors must complete the fencing, deck railing and skirting for the units, the school said.

Wray says subcontractors are running behind and they've blamed weather and staffing.

In a statement, the school division says it's extremely disappointing that work has not been completed on time, but will not compromise on safety. At this point, there's enough banked time to not require makeup days.

Wray has been the voice of reason through most of this, acting as a go-between for families and the school division.

But in the face of seeing another failed promise, the man who has preached patience admits he's running out of his own.

"This is not getting done and we all are just so disappointed, frustrated, upset, mad, you can call it anything and we're just not happy," said Wray. 

The school says it will send out another update Wednesday.

Transportation for Burton and Governors School students will resume Tuesday with pickups and drop-offs relocated to the middle school.

Below is the full message posted to the school's website:

"An update on the status of the Cave Spring HS project:  Roanoke County Schools crews, teachers, and administration have worked hard over the weekend to move furniture and equipment into the modular classrooms. That part of the work to set up the modular campus has been substantially completed.

Unfortunately, the subcontractors contracted to set up the modular campus have not completed important parts of the campus to have it ready by the promised dates. We are committed to getting classes back underway as soon as possible, but we will not begin classes in the modular campus until the subcontractors have completed fencing, deck railing, and skirting for the units, all of which are important for the safety of students and staff.

We are extremely disappointed that the subcontractors have not completed the promised work on time, but we want to be realistic about the timeline and we not will compromise on safety. As of today, based on the progress of work and weather forecasts for the remainder of the week, we do not anticipate being able to resume classes for the remainder of this week. However, we will send out another update on Wednesday to keep you informed about any changes. This includes grades 9-12.

One question that has arisen is when this missed time will be made up. At this point, we have enough banked time to not require the time to be made up.

Transportation for Burton and Governors School students will resume Tuesday with pick up and drop off relocated to the middle school.

We appreciate your patience and will continue to keep you informed about the progress."