Katherine Peele, of LS3P Boney Architects, who is overseeing the project for the school system, addressed the concerns during Thursday’s regular February meeting of the Person County Board of Education.

She told the school board that, although the contractor, E.M. Wilkerson, had “met the specs” for the slab integrity and strength, she had asked that the cracks, mostly in office areas of the bus garage, be repaired and sealed at Wilkerson’s expense.

Although there “is never a perfect slab,” said Peele, she was “alarmed” to learn about the problems at the bus garage. She requested batch tickets and the core samples, she said, and when the samples showed adequate strength, she asked that Wilkerson repair the cracks “so they won’t get worse when the buses are on” the slab.

School board member Ronnie King asked if it were possible to cut the slab out and pour another. Peele said that was not a “great” thing to do, especially given that the structural integrity of the bus garage slab seemed to be up to standards.

She said that she could not fault Wilkerson for, after all, “they did a beautiful job” as far as pouring and working the concrete. The pour took place on Dec. 27, she said, noting that the temperature that night dropped much faster and farther than the contractor had anticipated.

School board Vice Chairman Jimmy Wilkins said that he had looked at the slab and “I think it can be fixed.”

School board Chairman Gordon Powell noted that the “cracks are not in areas where the buses will be.” He added, however, “My concern is long term, what will happen.”

Peele said she believed the repair and sealing would take care of the problem, again referring to the core sample tests. She concluded that the problem was likely “more cosmetic” than structural.

Larry King, Person County Schools director of Environmental Services, introduced the problem with the slab and asked Peele to make the board aware of the status. He then said that steel is scheduled to be erected beginning Monday. The steel work had been slated for this week, but weather delays pushed it into next week.

At this time, though, King told the school board, “The project is still approximately one month behind schedule with a completion date in early May.”