Despite being a little behind schedule, the Straughn Elementary School building project will get back on schedule in the coming weeks, Covington County Schools Superintendent Shannon Driver said.

Driver said that crews were working to get the roof on the early childhood center.

“The roof is going on as we speak,” he said Friday afternoon. “Getting the roof on is a big step in this project. We are looking forward to seeing it go up. They have been making some real good progress on that portion.”

Driver said the contractors began putting the roof structure on last weekend.

“It’s come up very, very quickly,” he said. “They are making some real progress on the electric and plumbing as well.”

Driver said while they are a little behind schedule due to rains, but should make up some ground.

“They worked on the holiday,” he said. “It’s starting to look a little bit like a school building now.”

Plans are for the project to be completed in time for school to start on Aug. 14.

The Covington County Board of Education in September awarded the low bid for the project to Diversified General Contractors, who bid around $1.8 million, but the school board and the contractor were able to work together to get the costs down to approximately $1.7 million.

The new building will house pre-K and kindergarten on the back side of the elementary school.

Additionally, the building will be a FEMA storm shelter.

The entire structure is being built with 12-inch thick walls and will be able to accommodate 1,000 students, which is equivalent to the enrollment of SES and Straughn Middle School.

SES had an average daily membership of 596 students, and SMS had roughly 285 students last school year.

The facility is being built to accommodate the growing number of students at SES.