Cleveland High School's Betsy Vines Theater renovation on time for Oct. 1 deadline

photo With just an inch or so to spare, rental equipment company employee Randy Plumley maneuvers a lift through the doorway of the Betsy Vines Theater at Cleveland High School on Wednesday. Painters have been using the lift to get to the theater ceiling.
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CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The contractor is telling the architect that the renovation of Cleveland High School's Betsy Vines Theater will be done by the Oct. 1 deadline.

Architect Brian Templeton of Upland Design Work reported Wednesday to a meeting of the Cleveland Board of Education and board members who make up the site committee that deals with school system facilities.

"A lot of the work to be done is finish work," Templeton said. "The rough-in has mostly been done. But there's still a lot of finish work, and all that stuff takes time."

"They are still confident they can meet that target date of October 1," he said.

Templeton said the new theater seats should be on site in about two weeks.

On Wednesday the board approved spending just over $2,000 for new cabinets. Templeton said the money will come from a $10,000 contingency fund built into the contract.

"I'm glad we will be using new cabinetry with the new construction," board member Murl Dirksen said.

Principal Autumn O'Bryan said the old cabinets are in storage and will be used elsewhere at the school.

Work on the theater, named in memory of a beloved teacher, began last year. The project is expected to cost about $200,000.

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