JACKSON – Work is progressing nicely on the new Northampton County Elementary School.

Assistant Superintendent Phil Matthews gave a report to the Northampton County Board of Education last week saying the school has received an address, finished the permitting process and is on target thus far.

&uot;All permitting is complete,&uot; Matthews said. &uot;The site work is well under way and the farm access path is finished.&uot;

He added that soil testing thus far had been good and no contingency has been needed for soil fill.

&uot;This is good news considering the building pad has been completed and the parking and drive area are the only areas remaining to be tested,&uot; Matthews said.

Several areas of the construction process are in the discussion phase, according to Matthews. They include the drawings, sketch and placement of the job site sign and the electrical service at the site.

Matthews also said the school address will be 9742 N.C. 305, Jackson, NC.

The assistant superintendent also indicated discussions would be commencing soon on the color scheme for the school.

Board member Roland Whitted asked Matthews if there would be a committee to select the colors of the school and if parents, teachers and administrators would be involved in the decision-making process.

Matthews said he had not discussed the idea with new superintendent Dr. Kathi Gibson, but believed the committee that helped in earlier processes would be the same one used for the color scheme.

Gibson said her plans were to use a committee to present choices to the Board.

Later in the meeting she reminded the citizens, &uot;This is your school and we want it to be what you want it to be.&uot;

Board member Charles Tyner asked if there had been any discussion of the administrative building situation.

Dr. Gibson indicated she was working toward a new administrative building.

&uot;It is my hope that somehow we can come up with a Central Office Building,&uot; she said. &uot;The lesser of two evils may be tapping into the fund balance. We will see what we can come up with for the money.&uot;

Vice Chairman Bill Little said he believed the Facilities Committee of the Board was due to report back to the entire Board during the August meeting.