DALTON, Mass. — The new Wahconah Regional High School won't be ready for the start of classes this fall. 

 

Central Berkshire Regional School District Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis sent a letter to district families Tuesday indicating that she has decided to delay the opening of the new building until Oct 12.

 

The letter did not provide a specific reason for the delay but stated the decision was made in consideration of "multiple factors."

 

"In consideration of multiple factors that take into account all that is needed (and required) to provide optimum learning spaces, I have made the decision to delay opening the new Wahconah until October 12, 2021," she wrote. "This decision was made in consultation with our Wahconah Building Project team of experts and advisors to ensure that our 9-12 graders enter a building that is as we intended it."

 

The new $73 million school was expected to open for the start of fall 2021.

 

Blake-Davis did note the pandemic has created "difficult circumstances" as well as challenges in the procurement of resources.

 

"We continue to see a learning setting unfold that is all that we had hoped for toward its inception as a beautiful and progressive learning space for students and staff. We are extremely fortunate to be working with a dedicated team of experts that have done everything possible to make optimum progress under (at times) difficult circumstances due to the pandemic," she wrote. "Procurement of resources has been an ongoing challenge for our construction team despite heroic efforts toward our projected timelines for completion." 

 

She said things are still moving along and that Principal Aaron Robb and the administration will be making plans to start the school year in the original building

 

"He will finalize and communicate plans directly to Wahconah families in the coming days," she wrote. "We are excited to introduce this new and amazing setting to our community once the building is ready for our learners."

 

The distinct planned to demolish the original building but the public will have a chance to say goodbye to to "old Wahconah" during an open house on Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. This is a final opportunity for a brief self-guided walkthrough of the halls of the old building prior to its closing. Anyone unvaccinated is required to wear a mask.