The start of school Wednesday at the new South Junior High School, 2734 La., which is still under construction, could be delayed one or two days. A decision will be made by noon Tuesday.

The opening of Broken Arrow Elementary School, adjacent to South, could also be delayed.

Seventh grade students as of now are scheduled to start with a half-day Wednesday, and the first full day is scheduled for Thursday.

Randy Weseman, superintendent of Lawrence public schools, said this afternoon that South’s teachers will meet with principal Will Fernandez Tuesday morning. School administrators will then report to Weseman, who will make the decision about a possible delay.

“We just want to make sure that we’ve given our teachers ample time to get ready,” Weseman said.

Teachers were allowed into the new building for the first time this morning and were working around several busy construction workers, several who were hauling in truckloads of furniture.

Weseman and Tom Bracciano, division director of operations and facility planning, said a possible delayed start of one to two days would be more so that teachers could prepare their classrooms.

“In terms of the construction of the building, it’s what you’ve heard. We’re not going to have all sections of it complete, but it will be safe. It will be usable in that respect,” Weseman said. “But to have it educationally ready I think may require some additional preparation.”

Teachers’ curriculum materials and other items are still coming out of storage. Administrators had not planned for the school’s gym and some science classrooms on the south side of the building to be ready.

While construction continues – through September – some teachers will either be traveling from classroom to classroom, or temporarily teaching in spaces that were not originally designed as classrooms.

The decision could also affect Broken Arrow School students, who start class Wednesday.

Also the old South, next to the new one, is scheduled to start being demolished Wednesday. That will take 45 days, Bracciano said.

The district’s official announcement about South’s start date will be posted Tuesday on LJWorld.com as soon as it is available.