Courtesy Photo Matt Thomas, center, signs the contract with Eckman Construction to build the new Weare school. To the right, unseen, is Marge Burke of the Weare School Board, and to the left is Palmer Porter, the Clerk of the Works for the building project.

The Weare School Board has signed a contract with Eckman Construction Company for the construction of the new Weare Middle School.

Eckman Construction of Bedford is a leading New Hampshire construction company with extensive school construction experience. Current school projects include Bedford Middle/High School and Hanover High School.

The school board has also hired Palmer Porter, of Sutton, as the clerk of the works to oversee the building project.

Porter has more than 20 years of experience as clerk of the works for school and governmental projects. His resume includes serving as clerk of the works for Kearsarge Regional School District, Hillsboro-Deering High School, Sunapee Middle School, Hood Middle School in Derry, and most recently a new elementary school in Derry. Porter’s extensive experience in school construction will be a tremendous asset to the Weare Middle School project.

The pre-building process has proceeded smoothly this winter.

The last details of site and building plans are being finalized. The remaining step, obtaining all of the necessary permits to begin construction, is progressing accordingly and on schedule.

The building committee has met with the superintendent of the Highway Department, Carl Knapp, and the town building inspector, Chip Meany, to coordinate efforts in the building process.

With the exception of the drilling of the two new wells, progress on the new school has been invisible. This is about to change. The people of Weare will soon see visible signs of progress. In the next week or two, Eckman Construction will put up fencing around the white building of the existing Weare Middle School. They will also place trailers on site for the start of construction of the new school. Consult the WMS Web site, wms.weare.k12.nh.us, for information on changes in student drop-off and pick-up at the old fire station.

Other visible signs of progress will be the removal of the skateboard park and of the fencing and bleachers on the softball field. This equipment will be stored until the new construction is complete.

Demolition of the old fire station will occur this spring once the new town well, located at the Weare Public Library, is hooked up and operational. Completion of the new building is slated for the opening of school in September.

A community-wide ground breaking celebration will take place on Saturday, April 8, at 10 a.m., at the Weare Middle School. Details are on channel 17, or on the school board’s Web site, weareschools.org.