The view from Myers Road into the valley where the new Lakeridge Middle School rests shows a building nearing a finished product, but still showing the signs of a project in the works.

The exterior is largely finished with some rough edges and the landscaping consists of the flattened sand where the old building used to be. The interior is, as of press time, unknown as the public is barred access during the finishing stages of construction to keep the project on schedule. With work in progress, some nearby community members – including students – have wondered aloud if classrooms will be ready when the school bell rings in two weeks.

“I live near the school and my family and I can see the construction on the new building down there,” eighth grade student andAssociated Student Body President Mitchell Fenton said. “It looks pretty good, but it almost looks like it won’t be finished in time.”

But it will be done in time and the district is sticking by the Sept.. 7 date for the start of school, district spokeswoman Ann Cook said.

“You know when you’re cleaning your room and you throw all of your things on the floor before you put them in the right place?” she said. “For a little while it looks worse than it did before. Construction projects can work the same way.

“The start of school is Sept. 7. We don’t have a Plan B, there are no alternative plans, we will be ready to go.”

At the construction level, everyone is working busily to ready the school, Project Manager Jonathan Bingham said.

As of Friday, the building had four remaining inspection holds to complete before the district could gain its certificate of occupancy, as required by Pierce County Planning and Land Services. The holds yet to be released are a hydrant, sprinkler and alarm inspection by the Fire Prevention Bureau, an engineer’s report, a landscaping inspection and a structural observation of the school’s frame.

Lakeridge administrators have been conducting business as usual, though from a temporary office in a Sumner High School portable. Since Aug.. 16, co-principals Steve Fulkerson and Toby Udager, as well as the office staff, have handled the standard preparation, including registration paperwork, for the school year.

“It’s been interesting because we’ve been working out of boxes and it’s hard to find everything,” Administrative Secretary Carol Pizano said. “It will be nice to be back in a real office.”

ASB officers Fenton, Vice President Dacia Anderson and Secretary Gabrielle Pizano were present in the portable Aug.. 17 for student government orientation.

With a new building, the role of ASB officers as representatives to the student body will be more vital than ever, Udager said.

“They are our eyes and ears to make sure we’re serving the students,” he said. “In the new building if we have, say, a water fountain that doesn’t work, students can go to them and they’ll let us know so we can get it fixed.”

Mitchell and Pizano will also be WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) representatives, making sure incoming sixth-graders adjust well to the middle school environment.

Sumner ASB adviser John Norlin presented a seminar with the officers to introduce them to the attitude and methods required to be a good student leader.

“He taught us how it’s a choice to be positive,” Fenton said. “You can flip the mental switch to be nice even if you’re not feeling good that day.”