LONDON Mobile operator Vodafone will create 2,100 new customer service jobs across Britain in the next two years as part of an investment drive to improve operations in its home market.

The world's second biggest mobile operator, which competes with BT's EE, Telefonica's O2 and Hutchison's Three in Britain, has been struggling in the market with a move to a new billing system disrupting subscriber additions.

It has also slipped behind rivals who can offer bundles of pay-TV, mobile and fixed-line services, while Vodafone has delayed rolling out a TV service until it has improved its core mobile service.

In its latest quarterly results to the end of December, organic service revenue in Britain fell 3.2 percent, compared with an overall group performance of 0.7 percent growth.

Vodafone has invested 2 billion pounds ($2.4 billion) in its British network in recent years and is in the middle of a new 2 billion pound investment phase running from 2016-19 to improve its customer offering for its around 18 million British customers.

Many large companies had warned that Britain's vote to leave the European Union could hit the economy but the jobs market has remained resilient, with major tech firms such as Amazon announcing large hiring programs.

Vodafone said it would create the new roles in the Midlands, in the north of England, Scotland and Wales.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Susan Fenton)

TOKYO Shares in Toshiba Tec Corp rose more than 6 percent in early Monday trading after a report that Toshiba Corp , the parent, is considering selling shares in the company.

AUSTIN, Texas The newest tool for internationally acclaimed organizing guru Marie Kondo in her global battle against messy rooms is an app.

LONDON A British intelligence agency has told political parties to protect themselves against potential cyber attacks, citing allegations that Russian hackers tried to influence last year's U.S. presidential election.

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Vodafone to add over 2000 British jobs to improve services - Reuters

Few lake-view homesites remain at Sunset Pointe

Since its grand opening only eight months ago, 15 new homes have been sold in the small Southwest Cape Coral community of Sunset Pointe. Only six lake-view homesites remain in the quiet neighborhood located at the end of Cape Coral Parkway. In addition, D.R. Horton's Southwest Florida division has also just released two new home plans in the community.

Homes start at $279,990 at Sunset Pointe, each with a two- or three-car garage. The public is invited to tour the professionally decorated Camden model. Featuring 2,795 square feet of living space, this one-story home offers four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths. A great room and caf space adjoin an open kitchen and overlook the lanai.

The 1,641-square-foot Avon and 1,816-square-foot Clifton floor plans are the new additions. These homes are designed to get the most efficiency and enjoyment out of a smaller, more maintenance-friendly footprint. At the heart of the Avon is an open-concept living room, kitchen and dining area that flow to an expansive outdoor living area. A flex room in the Clifton can be configured with optional French doors or as an optional third bedroom.

All plans feature tile roofs and paver drivers, and select sites offer views of a central fountain lake.

The public is invited to tour a professionally decorated model, which is open seven days a week at 3067 Sunset Pointe Circle in Cape Coral. For an appointment or more information, contact sales agent Robin Hull at (239) 850-2492.

Founded in 1978 in Fort Worth, Texas, D.R. Horton has operations in 78 markets in 26 states in the East, Midwest, Southeast, South Central, Southwest and West regions of the United States. For more information, visit http://www.drhorton.com/swfla.

RE/MAX Realty Partners announces 'Top Agents' for January

RE/MAX Really Partners has recognized its top three agents in residential closed real estate for January 2017.

Maureen Gobbi was the "Top Agent" in the office. She has many years of experience in all aspects of residential sales and can be reached at 239-850-0448 or morecape@morecapecoral.com

Rachel Dysarczyk and Bob Osborne attained the No. 2 and 3 positions as office leaders for January. Both are seasoned agents with many years experience in residential real estate locally, working with both buyers and sellers. Dysarczyk can be reached at 239-898-3948 or rachelgetsresults@hotmail.com. Osborne can be reached at 239-850-4279 or bosborne1@hotmail.com

RE/MAX Realty Partners is a full service residential, commercial and property management firm located at 3501 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 110, in Cape Coral, FL 33904. All inquiries are welcome at 239-424-7387.

Neal Communities debuts new floor plans at Daniels Place

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com) recently introduced two new floor plans at Daniels Place, a master-planned community in Fort Myers with 85 single-family homes.

The new floor plans offer homebuyers the flexibility of adding a second story. The Silver Mist 3 is the most recent addition to Daniels Place. With 2,912 square feet of living space, the new design features four bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and a three-car garage. The Silver Mist 3 also has separate dining room and office areas as well as a covered lanai.

The community's other addition, the Sea Star, offers a bonus room option, which takes the community's original plan and incorporates a second story. The 2,379-square-foot Sea Star offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a three-car garage. Similar to the Silver Mist 3, the Sea Star also has separate dining room and den spaces as well as a covered lanai.

Located in the Daniels Parkway location, homes in the community feature views of an 8.4-acre natural preserve area and a 2.71-acre lake. Homes start from the high $200,000s.

For more information, visit the sales center at 8251 Wildlife Preserve Lane in Fort Myers or call 239-220-1743.

With over 40 years of experience building homes, Neal Communities has over 70 communities throughout Southwest Florida. The Lakewood Ranch-based builder, to date, has built over 11,000 homes in Southwest Florida. For more information, please visit http://www.NealCommunities.com.

Fischler Property Co. facilitates closing of downtown office space in Fort Myers

Fischler Property Company recently assisted in the sale of a Class A office condo located at 2121 West First St., Unit 2, in downtown Fort Myers. The seller was 2121 West First Street LLC, and the buyer is Courtside LLC.

Michael F. Curran, of Fischler Property Company, arranged the sale of this office condo. The property is located at the corner of West First Street and Clifford Street, one block from the Caloosahatchee River directly southwest of the heart of Fort Myers' Downtown River District. The condo encompasses the entire second story of a two-story building constructed in 1973 and extensively renovated, both exterior and interior, in 2005. The unit contains 3,157 square feet of rentable area with both stairwell and elevator access.

Fischler Property Company is a commercial real estate firm focused on investment, infill and redevelopment across Southwest Florida.

For more information, visit http://www.fischlerco.com, call 239-288-9754, or email Michael Curran at mfc@fischlerco.com.

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Frances Parrish , frances.parrish@independentmail.com Published 9:03 a.m. ET March 11, 2017 | Updated 13 hours ago

A maintenance man does repair work on a closet causing odor in the gym at Riverside Middle School on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Pendleton.(Photo: Katie McLean/ Independent Mail)

Cracked floors, aging roofs and separating walls are just some of the issues Anderson School District 4 hopes to eradicate with the construction of a new middle school.

Last month, the Pendleton-based school board voted to move forward with a $79 million bond referendum. It will go before voters May 2.

On the list of projects, District 4 Superintendent Joanne Avery saidbeing building repairs, new construction and safety upgrades are some of the immediate needs of the district.

"The plan is a result of lots of data collection and inclusion from the community," Avery said.

Instructional projects make upabout $62 million of the referendum. These projects include a new middle school, roof upgrades as well asheating, ventilation and air conditioning systemreplacements and upgrades to threeelementary schools. An agriculture classroom, lab and a sustainable garden are also on the list.

In the category of safety, about $3 million, projects includenew security gates for Mount Lebanon, Pendleton and Townville elementary schools as well as Pendleton High School. The other projects includecommunication safety rooms,outdoor fencing and door and window safety upgrades at all schools.

Narrow hallways are a hallmark of older sections of Riverside Middle School on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Pendleton.(Photo: Katie McLean/ Independent Mail)

"We've spent a lot of time looking at safety," Avery said. "We have a different lens that we're looking at safety now. Having been through a school shooting, you take a step back and look at things a little differently."

Athletic projects equal about $11 million of the referendum. These projects includenew practice fields, a competition track and soccer field, a new competition high school gym as well as a renovated softball field and field house.

Spending on outdoor recreational projects would be about$2 million.Projects consist of playground upgrades at La France, Pendleton and Townville elementary schools, as well as walking trails for La France and Mount Lebanon elementary schools.Townville Elementary School athletic field upgrades are also on the list.

The biggest single expense is the new middle school. With the existing aging school, officials say it's more cost efficient in the long run to build a new one.

Harris team reflects five generations of flooring expertise

Construction bid, director next for Anderson joint career center

"There's a lot of structural concerns based on the age of the (middle)school. It's going to need HVAC and roof renovations. The one road access point in (to the school) is a concern," Avery said. "We've spoken to DOT, and they've said once you touch that school, you'll have to deal with that road."

Riverside Middle School was built in 1955, and about 75 percent of the building is original. Prior to 1997, an addition with several classrooms was constructed and building renovations were also made in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Then in the mid-2000s, the kitchen, media center and several classrooms were renovated and expanded.

Now, aging clay pipes leave a sewer and musty smell throughout the school.Many of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning units are about 15 years old, and are so loudteachers have to use microphones in class so the students can hear them.

"When it's running, you're competing to be heard," said Riverside Middle School Principal Kevin Black.

About a year ago, the concrete overhang from the roof on the second floor was sagging and the district constructed braces to stabilize it.

In an upstairseighth-grade hallway,the floor near the stairwell is cracked and uneven, and the roof leaks, leaving brownstains on the ceiling tiles.

Significant cracks in the flooring can be seen in some of the older sections of Riverside Middle School on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Pendleton.(Photo: Katie McLean/ Independent Mail)

In another hallway,the tileand concrete in the floor is separating. While it's been covered by a piece of metal so no one trips, the cracks are still exposed in theteacher's break room.

"How much longer do you have without pouring a lot of money into it?" Black said."The older the facility, the more problems you're going to have."

About 10 more classrooms are needed to house sixth-grade in the middle school, something the district believes is best for the children because they lose instructional time at the elementary schools,

Other significant building upgrades include roof and HVAC renovations for La France, Pendleton and Townville elementary schools. According to the report from Shepard & Associates, LLC, part of La France's roof needs to be repairedand another part of the roof will outlive it's lifespan in three to five years.

At Pendleton Elementary, part of the roof is 19 years old, and the company recommends to replace the roof as soon as possible instead of waiting until the end of its 25-year lifespan.

At Townville Elementary, part of the roof has outlived its lifespan and is recommended to be replaced as soon as possible, while newer additions to the school need a little maintenance.

"The renovations for the HVAC and roofs have to be done," Avery said. "That's an immediate need that will have to take place."

If the bond referendum passes, Avery said she hopes to get all or most of the projects completed in three to four years.

Follow Frances Parrish on Twitter @frances_AIM

Anderson School District 4 calls $79 million bond referendum

Anderson School District 4 keeps projects tabled

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District 4 bond would replace school with cracked floors, leaky roof - Anderson Independent Mail

Receiver Robert Woods saw opportunity on the field and also a chance to come home. Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth wanted to move west, and provide stability and leadership for a young team.

The new Rams players, of course, mainly were drawn by the huge paydays they will earn after they signed free-agent contracts on Friday.

They are key additions for a franchise aiming to improve its fortune and end what has grown to a 13-year playoff drought.

During an introductory news conference at Cal Lutheran, Woods and Whitworth said they were looking forward to playing for new Coach Sean McVay and with quarterback Jared Goff.

Woods grew up in Carson and starred at Gardena Serra High and USC before he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2013.

The Rams made the trip home and so did I, said Woods, who received a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $39 million. Big day, very exciting. I just cant wait to get going and look forward to working with Jared Goff.

McVay said he has been a fan of Woods since the receiver was running precise routes for USC.

Hes one of the rare players that has the ability to play both on the inside and the outside, McVay said.

Woods joins a receivers corps that includes Tavon Austin, the eighth pick in the 2013 draft, and second-year pros Pharoh Cooper, Michael Thomas and Nelson Spruce.

My biggest thing, or how I look at my game is as a complete receiver, said Woods, who has 203 career receptions, 12 for touchdowns. A complete receiver needs to be able to play inside and outside. I think I can move all around the field. I can match up against quick corners. I can match up against big corners with speed and quickness.

While the Rams were drawn to Woods because of his potential, the 6-foot-7, 330-pound Whitworth brings 11 years of NFL experience at left tackle.

Whitworth has played his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, including the last two seasons.

His resume kind of speaks for itself, McVay said. I havent seen, really, any falloff. Hes a pros pro.

The Bengals tried to keep Whitworth, but their offer reportedly did not include the number of contract years or guarantees offered by the Rams. Whitworth agreed to terms on Thursday.

This just seemed like one of those opportunities, he said. To go and make a difference and try to be a part of a locker room that I could be a leader and be someone that can help a team turn in a direction that they want to go.

At 35, Whitworth is the oldest player on the Rams roster and four years older than McVay.

Age is obviously an issue, he said, laughing. But he has not missed a start in the last three seasons. I still feel like Im going to win enough percentages of blocks that youre going to feel like thats not a position you have to worry about.

The addition of Whitworth, McVay said, will send Greg Robinson to right tackle, where he will compete with third-year pro Rob Havenstein. In the wake of the release of center Tim Barnes, McVay said interior linemen would be trained at guards and center while the Rams continue to search for replacements.

Barnes was among four veterans removed from the roster via trade or release, including defensive linemen William Hayes and Eugene Sims as well as tight end Lance Kendricks. All had significant histories playing under former Coach Jeff Fisher.

McVay said the departures were not an attempt by the organization to distance himself from the Fisher era.

Theres a lot of respect in this building, and me personally, for Coach Fisher and what hes accomplished and what he did here, he said. Its more along the lines of looking at what weve got in place, what weve seen out there in free agency and through the draft and how we can find a way to make the best roster decisions.

The Rams have about $17 million in salary-cap space.

That could grow if they release more players, or if they trade cornerback Trumaine Johnson. The Rams put the franchise tag on Johnson for the second year in a row and will pay him $16.7 million this season if they cannot work out a long-term deal.

Notes

The Rams tendered restricted free-agent defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks, who is due to appear in court next week after his arrest in Sacramento last week on suspicion of felony domestic abuse. Were continuing to gather information in regards to that, McVay said. Its a very serious incident. Were just continuing to gather those facts. Really see what went on. But were hoping to get some things figured out and then how that affects and dictates the way that well move forward. . Tre Mason, a running back who did not play last season after several off-the-field incidents, was waived by the Rams, according to the NFLs transaction report. Mason, a third-round pick from Auburn in 2014, was placed on the did not report list at the start of training camp last July. Mason had been arrested four months earlier on suspicion of drug and driving-related offenses. He also was reportedly involved in other incidents that required police intervention. Mason, 23, rushed for 972 yards and scored six touchdowns in two seasons.

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New Rams cite opportunity to play in new offense for heading west - Los Angeles Times

News & Observer

Duke's pieces coming together as it heads into ACC title game News & Observer Still, considering the rough ride Notre Dame had its first time through the conference -- Jerian Grant's second semester ineligibility effectively wrecked the Irish in 2013-14 -- the work Brey has done since stands out even more. Brey frequently ... and more »

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To properly figure the replacement cost of your home, don't rely on Zillow estimates or what you paid for your house when you bought it.

"Market value is not comparable to construction cost," says Brydon. Market value includes the cost of the land and depends on things like your home's location, the economy, and the price you could sell it for. The cost of new construction to replace your home could be very different.

So Brydon recommends that you make a date with yourinsuranceagent. He'll have software that can estimate the replacement cost of your home. To make sure you get the most accurate replacement cost, follow these steps:

Review your home's vital statistics as listed in your policy. Make sure the policy includes correct information about your home's square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, its age, and the structural materials it's built with. Also check that the type of flooringlisted in the policy is accurate.

"If you've added a second story to the house or remodeled with top-of-the-line upgrades, keep your agent in the loop," saysChris Hackett, senior director of personal lines at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, a trade group. Such a change would make a big difference in how much insurance you need.

Get a "new-policy" quote. Even if you're renewing your policy, ask your agent to recalculate your home's reconstruction value using the most current construction cost data and updated property details. A "new policy" estimate will likely be more precise than a "renewal" quote, which may be based on less up-to-date info.

Request a copy of the reconstruction valuation report.Review it for accuracy and make any corrections necessary. Ask the agent if you have any questions.

Repeat this process every year or two.One reason so many are underinsured is inertia. Homeowners buy insurance when they buy their home, then they forget about it. Rising construction costs can quickly outdate your policy limits.

Buy the extended replacement cost endorsement. Most homeowners insurance provides for replacement cost up to specified limits. Hackett says you want extended replacement cost coverage, which will typically pay up to 25 percent above your limits. That costs more, but it's especially important when natural disaster strikes and the sudden large demand for construction labor and materials causes price spikes.

Protect against other perils. Another reason homeowners can find themselves underinsured is because standard homeowners insurance policies don't cover everything.Youll need additional policies for flooding and earthquakes. You might also need separate policies for hurricanes, wind, and hail if you live in a high-risk zone.

Consider getting a "floater" to your policy. If you own unusually valuable furs, jewelry, silverware, or artwork, a floater could cover the full value of those items. If you live in an older home, consider adding an ordinance or law endorsement (an extra feature), which will help pay the higher cost of bringing plumbing, wiring, or other key systems up to current codes when rebuilding.

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How to Give Yourself a Home Insurance Checkup - Consumer Reports - ConsumerReports.org

Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors

Maybe he was just disinterested while playing for a losing team, but Serge Ibaka didn't produce much to write home about while with the Orlando Magic. His rebounding continued to decline from the levels he'd previously reached for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he failed to stand out in any singular facet of the game.

Ibaka was a positive on both ends of the floor for the Magic, but only barely.

Since joining the Toronto Raptors, he's been in for a rude awakening. Though his three-point stroke has returned with aplomb, his rebounding has continued trending in the wrong direction, and his ever-growing turnover figures negate much of what he does on offense. Even his defensive positioning has been poor as he adjusts to his new surroundings.

During his brief time with his new squad, Ibaka grades out as a negative on both ends in TPA. That's likely to change, but not by enough to overcome his lackluster numbers with the Magic, thereby relegating the Congolese power forward to an honorable omission.

Deron Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers

Don't fall victim to the hype created by prominent names from the past.

Deron Williams may well develop into a solid backup point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he hasn't done anything in 2016-17 to indicate he's still an above-average player.

The relatively solid offensive numbers he produced for the Dallas Mavericks prior to his release were more than negated by his defense. ESPN.com's defensive real plus/minus, for example, lists the 1-guard as the No. 63 stopper at his position, with a score so negative it more than cancels out his offense.

Three games into Williams' Cleveland tenure, he's been even worse. Not only does he continue to struggle defensively, but he's also shot just 35 percent from the field and misfired on all six of his three-point attempts.

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Royal Caribbean's next ship, Symphony of the Seas, will be slightly bigger than sister vessel Harmony of the Seas, shown here. Harmony currently is the biggest cruise ship at sea.(Photo: Michel Verdure)

A new cruise ship from Royal Caribbean coming in 2018 will be the biggest ever built.

Royal Caribbean Wednesday revealed that the fourth vessel in its record-breaking Oasis class series, scheduled to debut in April 2018, will measure about 230,000 tons, eclipsing the current size leader by about 3,000 tons.

Royal Caribbean also announced the name for the ship, which already is under construction at a shipyard in France: Symphony of the Seas.

In addition, the lineannouncedthe vessel willsail to the Caribbean out of Miami starting in November 2018. It'll move to the city after spending its first few months operating voyages in the Mediterranean.

"It's slightly longer, and it's a tad wider" than earlier Oasis Class ships, Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley said of Symphony during a conference call with cruise writers. He promised a vessel with attractions both familiar and new that was"packed full of adventure."

"It will boast all of the innovations that are so well known with (the) Oasis Class, and then of course, because we have to have a whole new set of features ... there are additions that we are not going to talk about today."

The new details about the ship cameas Royal Caribbean preparedto break ground Wednesdayon a new terminal at the port of Miami that will be able to accommodate ships as big as Symphony.

In addition to Symphony, the new terminal will be home to a second Oasis Class ship, Allure of the Seas, which will move to Miami from its current home in Fort Lauderdale in late 2018, Royal Caribbean also announced Wednesday.

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In becoming the world's largest cruise ship, Symphony will be dethroning the third vessel in the Oasis Class series, Harmony of the Seas. Unveiled just eight months ago, Harmony measures 226,963 tons and can carry up to 6,780 passengers.

Five things to love about Royal Caribbean's new Harmony of the Seas

Symphony will share many of the same features as Harmony, whichis about 1,700 tons larger than the first two Oasis Class ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure,and offers attractions that aren't on the earlier vessels. Among features that were new on Harmony that will be debuting on Symphony, too:Ultimate Abyss, which has been heralded as the most thrilling attraction ever conceived for a cruise ship.

Comprised of two swirling slides, Ultimate Abyss drops ninestories from near the top of the vessel down to one of its lowest decks (scroll through the carousel at the top of this story for a look at everything Harmony has to offer).

See what it's like to slide down the Ultimate Abyss on the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas. USA TODAY

Symphony also will have a multi-deck water slide area, something Royal Caribbean just begun adding to ships in 2016, and a Bionic Bar where the drinks are served by robot bartenders a concept that first debuted in 2014 on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.

While remaining mostly mum on new and updated features planned for Symphony, Bayley said the vessel's forward-facing Solarium area wouldbe "quite a lot" different than the ones on the earlier Oasis Class ships. In addition, Symphony willhave 28 more cabins than Harmony.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class vessels have made waves in the cruise industry since they began debuting in 2009. All three of the Oasis Class ships currently at sea are in excess of 225,000 tons more than 30% larger than the next largest cruise ships.

With the arrival of Symphony, Royal Caribbean will have 26 ships.

The vessel's first voyages will openfor bookings Wednesday.

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NetherRealm Studios releases its newest story trailer today for Injustice 2! The trailer is the second part of a series being called Shattered Alliances, and really highlights the escalating conflict going on in the DC Universe. Check it out below!

As you can see in this trailer, the tension is rising between Supermans well intentioned regime and Batmans freedom fighting resistance. Batman needs assistance from an increasingly large group of unlikely teammates, as theyface threats from all sides. Something that is very interesting in the trailer is that we see characters that have yet to be revealed as fighters for the game.

Thats right! We definitely saw fighting gameplay for the Green Lantern. Besides the green Guardian, Green Arrow also had gameplay. But there was also a hidden hint for Captain Cold. So maybe all three are headed to the roster.

The game already boasts an impressive line up of heroes and villains. So far it includes:Doctor Fate, Swamp Thing, Cyborg, Batman, Blue Beetle, The Flash, Harley Quinn, Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Deadshot, Gorilla Grodd, Aquaman, Robin, Cheetah, Brainiac, Bane, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Black Canary, and Atrocitus. That puts us at 21 characters, and would be 24 if the appearances in the trailer make it in.

The game will be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One onMay 16, 2017. There was also arecent confirmation that the game will have a mobile version! If you have not seen the first part of the Shattered Alliances series, check it out here. Stay tuned in to COGconnected for more incoming Injustice 2 news!

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New Injustice 2 Trailer: Shattered Alliances 2 Shows New Roster Additions - COGconnected (press release)

But kind of like an iceberg where only the tip of the massive structure shows, the underground work of snaking utilities to the site and setting deep footings for the structures to be built upon was taking place.

"We did a lot of work underground that people didn't see," said Josh Schwinghammer, project superintendent with Winkelman Building Corp.

Even NLS Superintendent Paul Carlson said he had hard time looking at the drawings, the trenches and piles of dirt and envisioning exactly how it would all look in the end.

But after the looming precast concrete walls for the stage of the 650-seat auditorium were set in place in December on the south end of the high school/middle school and the walls for the new two-court gym went up on the north end, the project is starting to take shape.

"Everybody's just so excited to see progress on the project," Carlson said.

Although some parts of the project are on, or ahead of schedule, wet winter weather has put the complex performing arts auditorium project about a month behind schedule. It's expected to be ready for use by Dec. 1. The original plan had been for November.

The rest of the high school/middle school project, including the new, secure entrance by the auditorium, the revamped bus drop-off area and the new gym are expected to be done by the time school starts this fall.

Over at the Prairie Woods Elementary School, construction of a new cafeteria/auditorium and two new classrooms is far ahead of schedule. Originally, the classrooms weren't expected to be started until this spring but the concrete block shells are already up and the exterior brick is going up on the cafeteria.

The additions at the elementary, as well as a new entrance and security system, are expected to be completed by the start of the 2017-18 school year.

Overall, the project is going well and staying on budget with about $1 million left in the contingency fund, Carlson said.

Carlson praised DeVetter Design Group the construction manager for the district and Winkelman and the other contractors for keeping the project on track.

Although a construction manager is more expensive upfront than hiring a general manager, Carlson said DeVetter has saved the district money in the long run because of the thorough preparations and planning.

"It's been a cost savings," Carlson said.

Schwinghammer said the pre-construction preparations was hugely helpful for the contractors.

"The district is very good to work with," he said. "They're very knowledgable and had their plans together before we started."

Schwinghammer said that kind of preparation and teamwork is uncommon. "The school district is excellent to work with, quite honestly," he said, adding that he appreciates the "open door" policy DeVetter and the district has when contractors have concerns or ideas.

Even with the weather-related delays, Schwinghammer said the project has been progressing well.

"We're lucky we have great contractors on site," he said, adding that many of the contractors are local and several NLS graduates are working as contractors on site.

Current high school ag students have also met with contractors on the school site to learn about construction jobs, Schwinghammer said.

Theater project

During a recent tour of the construction site, Carlson and Schwinghammer talked about the guts of the construction work and the how the projects will affect students and the community when they are done.

A second-story window in the high school provides the perfect observation deck to watch construction of the performing arts auditorium.

The large stage, which is about 52-feet tall to allow for a fly loft for the scenery and curtains to go up and down, includes catwalks for lighting, dressing rooms and storage area for props.

A deep dirt trench shows where the orchestra pit will be located in front of the stage. When not in use, the pit will be covered to create even more stage space.

So far, all that can be seen of the actual auditorium where the audience will be is an outline of blocks barely above the surface of the soil.

The auditorium will not be a square, box-like structure but will feature curved walls. That design was selected in order to elevate the aesthetics of the building. "We wanted the building to be representative of a classy place to be and not a gym," Carlson said.

The curved design also allowed the land-locked district to maximize available space, said Megan Field, NLS director of communications.

An interior cascading stairway alongside the theater will create a functional, flexible learning space, Field said, and the new, window-filled entrance to the high school/middle school will serve as a gathering space, featuring a cafe-style setting.

The NLS drama and music departments are already gearing up for the new space with plans being made for a musical.

Currently, NLS school plays are performed at the historic, but very small, Little Theater in downtown New London. Choir and band concerts are held in the school gyms.

Two-court gym

Construction of the new two-court gym will be used for wrestling tournaments, by the growing danceline program and will create permanent space for the gymnastics program, which has more than 40 participants and is currently housed in a building at an old Bible camp near Spicer.

The gym includes a padded pit that will allow student athletes to try new maneuvers while staying safe.

The gym addition includes a large lobby that will double as a trophy gallery, locker rooms for guest athletes and coaches, a row of windows at the top of the north wall that features mechanical shades to prevent sun from glaring into athletes' eyes and restrooms that can be accessed by fans from the football field that will replace outdoor portable toilettes.

Attention to detail even how splash of the showers hit the floor are all part of building a gym, Carlson said.

The gym project is "right on schedule," said Schwinghammer. "This has gone pretty smooth."

The exterior of the gym and theater will have decorative metal panels and the same color exterior brick, which will be different than the brick color of the main high school/middle school. The contrasting look will give the additions a "distinctive look," Carlson said.

Prairie Woods

At the elementary school, the large windows in the cafeteria/auditorium that give a wide view to the trees, hills and wetlands to the north end of the property that will "bring the woods back to Prairie Woods," Carlson said. "It'll be awesome."

The addition is big enough to seat 650 people. Having a separate cafeteria will allow the elementary students and teachers to have full access to the gym for classes and recess when it's too cold to go outside.

The two new classrooms, which are also built on the north side of the building, will create additional space for the growing elementary student population.

The project also includes creating a new, secure entrance that will provide an indoor space for parents who are picking up children.

Year-round school?

Safety on the job site has been key. "We've had zero accidents on the job," Schwinghammer said.

Field said students have also respected the construction zone and drivers have responded well to the rerouted traffic flow.

Depending on how much of the $1 million contingency fund is left when the project is done, Carlson said one idea for spending some of the money is to air condition the buildings "so we're not restricted to nine-month school year and we can actually look at a 12-month school year, which would be an interesting concept."

Carlson said if the district wants to get "really serious" about the achievement gap consideration should be given to a year-round school calendar.

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Building from the ground up: NLS construction project starts to take shape - West Central Tribune