PORTLAND — The opening of the Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Portland has been pushed back to at least February and possibly April because of recent construction delays.

Students from Nathan Clifford Elementary School were going to move in in January but the concrete floor in the gym has not dried adequately to install the finished flooring, according to a statement from the district. Once the relative humidity at the surface of the concrete drops to acceptable levels to meet manufacturer’s requirements, the finished flooring will be installed.

The delay is unrelated to the theft of computers form the school this week.

“While we are disappointed by this delay, the school still will be finished ahead of its original September 2011 scheduled opening and significantly under budget,” said Portland Superintendent James C. Morse Sr.

The school will open next fall to all students living in the district served by the former Baxter Elementary School, he said.

The school has set up meetings to answer questions about the new school: Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. at Longfellow School; Nov. 16, 6 p.m. at Presumpscot School and Nov. 22, 7 p.m. at Riverton School.

The department plans to hold a special meeting for Clifford parents on Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Clifford School to announce the new date of the move to the Ocean Avenue school.

Transportation routes recently distributed by the Transportation Department are accurate for when the Ocean Avenue Elementary School is opened, the department’s statement said.

For more information about the project and the scheduled opening date, visit the School Department website at www.portlandschools.org


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