After a month-long discussion, Taylor Middle School (TMS), originally known as Warrenton Middle School, is finally having renovations done. There has been delay after delay on construction and the construction recently got approved. TMS renovation and expansion project continued last week after a contract dispute.
The delay began in August when the town said it could not release permits without a signed contract tied to the project's bond. School officials hesitated due to concerns over whether the contract imposed many new obligations outside the scope of the project. They reached out to the Warrenton Town Council on Sept. 9, with many questions about the due date at the building committee meeting on Aug. 28. At the school board building committee meeting on Sept. 25, Fallin said abatement at the school was underway and would take around three weeks. Josh Johnston, director of facilities, said the branch had also secured business licenses for subcontractors so materials could begin moving.
There was a lot of talk about the school division waiting permit issuance. Johnston said interior abatement was allowed to begin while the paperwork was pending. David Graham, assistant superintendent of business and planning, said his team reviewed the project’s “Critical Path” and believed the delay would have not served long term effects. He acknowledged that anger with the building's status had extended about 25 years.
The Scott District representative and building committee Chair, Clay Campbell, told the community that the project was a month behind schedule and legal fees had reached 11,942 dollars. The same day, Warrenton spokesperson Lyndie Paul said the town received a digital copy of the signed contract on Sept. 19, but was waiting on a physical copy with a signature required for Circuit Court. She told FauquierNow the town attorney had signed the document that morning and mailed it to Town Hall, so the manager and town clerk could sign it on Sept. 25. Paul said permits were being released that day and certain disputed claims about staff and their availability.
Despite all the talk and discussion about the delay, school officials and the community and schools officially indicated remaining cautious. As well as continuing to continue being worried about further delays while the project is moving forward.
