By David A. Sargent,Special to the Sun Journal

AUBURN – Completion of the new elementary school on Park Avenue is only a couple of weeks away.

Members of the Auburn School Committee toured the building Wednesday afternoon.

“Hopefully, by June 20 we will start the punch list,” said Jude Cyr, finance director of the Auburn School Department. “We are probably 95 percent complete right now.”

Cyr led the walk-through of the $10 million structure that will replace Lake Street School.

Among the areas that seemed to impress the committee most were the gymnasium and a two-sided stage between the gym and the cafeteria.

Cyr pointed out that the gymnasium is larger than a normal elementary school facility. He said it’s roughly the size of the gym at Auburn Middle School. That’s a result of an affirmative vote by Auburn citizens to build a larger size that would be made available for community use.

The stage area has sliding walls on two sides. With one side closed, the stage is open to the gym area. With the other side closed, it is viewed from the cafeteria. Both walls can be closed so it is a room for uses such as music practice.

The large media center and library was empty Wednesday afternoon, but Cyr said shelving and other furnishings will arrive on July 1.

As they moved from one wing to another, the committee members were shown special features such as lights that went on automatically when anyone entered a room, and turned off automatically after a period of inactivity in a room.

Cyr also pointed out a “light shelf” on outside windows that directs sunlight further into the room.

The lower level of the north wing contains an art room with a kiln for pottery work, a music room, and a “hands on” room for a variety of uses. That room has a stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer.

Cyr said much of the landscaping work on the small and large playground areas is also expected to be finished in the next few weeks.

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