Omaha Mayor Addresses Safety of New Elkhorn Elementary Schools

Categories: National Construction NewsNews

A glimpse of the ongoing construction at the Elkhorn elementary schools.

News Summary

Mayor John Ewing held a press conference to assure the community about the safety of the newly constructed Elkhorn Elementary Schools, Iron Bluff and Stone Pointe. With ongoing construction concerns, Ewing confirmed that both schools are ready for students, as communicated by the Elkhorn School District and city officials. Parents raised various safety concerns, particularly around heavy equipment and unfinished infrastructure, but Ewing reassured that inspections and safety protocols have been addressed, and further updates are forthcoming.

Omaha – Mayor John Ewing held a news conference to address the safety of new Elkhorn Elementary Schools – Iron Bluff and Stone Pointe – which are currently under construction. Despite ongoing construction, Mayor Ewing expressed confidence in the safety of the schools for students, confirming the decision to open the facilities was made collaboratively between the Elkhorn School District and the city’s building and inspections officials.

Concerns regarding the schools’ readiness arose after Ewing received a voicemail sharing safety issues on Wednesday evening. In response, he convened a meeting on Thursday with key figures, including Elkhorn Superintendent Bary Habrock, Ryan Lindquist from the district, and Steve Rease from Prairie Construction. Based on discussions in that meeting, Ewing felt reassured about the status of unfinished tasks and the overall project timeline.

The construction company has committed to providing a detailed schedule for the remaining project work by Monday. Reports indicate that the use of heavy equipment at the construction sites has ceased, addressing one of the concerns raised by parents about potential hazards around students. However, Ewing noted that a separate nearby project by another developer should not impede the progress of the school openings, provided satisfactory development continues.

The mayor recalled previous experiences in similar situations where communication between parents and school administration improved as concerns arose. Ewing also expressed a willingness to visit the construction sites, should he be invited, despite not having attended them previously.

Elkhorn Public Schools has consistently reassured parents that both Iron Bluff and Stone Pointe are secure for students and staff, countering worries that surfaced regarding unfinished construction areas and utilities such as electricity and air conditioning in classrooms. Some parents voiced specific concerns about the presence of heavy equipment near children, along with the lack of a certificate of occupancy for the schools, raising legal and safety compliance issues.

A First Alert 6 investigation revealed that the two schools had not completed all the final inspections mandated by Omaha city law. Nevertheless, Ewing confirmed that the city’s fire division had conducted inspections and identified compliance issues that need to be resolved before granting full occupancy approval. He clarified that while inspectors may note safety concerns, they do not possess the authority to prevent schools from opening; that authority rests with the school district and city inspectors.

Parents have raised concerns regarding the transparency and communication from the school administration throughout the construction process. However, the Nebraska Department of Education reported that they had not received any official complaints about the newly constructed schools.

A joint statement released by Elkhorn Public Schools and Prairie Construction affirmed that safety features and inspections were completed prior to student occupancy, although some work remains unfinished. In light of ongoing concerns, Ewing announced that a follow-up communication would be sent to families on Friday, August 15, providing updates on safety protocols and project timelines.

Overall, the safety and readiness of the new Elkhorn elementary schools continue to be a priority for city officials and school authorities, amidst efforts to address parent concerns regarding construction transparency and the overall condition of the schools.