GROVES — While the eagerly-anticipated Port Neches-Groves High School stadium is about a week behind schedule, it’s not a situation that contractors believe they can’t overcome.

Next week, turf should go down and the press box should go up, Port Neches-Groves Independent School District board members learned in a bond update at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

J. Luis DelValle, architect, said proposed work at the high school is coming in at about $12 million over budget and that planners are looking into gutting and redoing some areas instead of building new ones.

“Everything is on the table, off the table and back again,” DelValle told board members.

He said one concern with this plan is that it would “separate” the campus.

“We’re looking at all kinds of different schemes,” DelValle said.

Lana Parker, president of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, addressed the board with employee concerns ranging from cost-of-living increases and changing payroll schedule from once a month to twice a month, to a district policy regarding parents who don’t pick up their children from school on time.

Dr. Lani Randall, superintendent, presented a plaque to outgoing board president Abby Deaton and thanked her for being a mentor. She said the plaque honored Deaton, who has twice served as board president, for her “true desire to serve the children of this district.”

Rusty Brittain is the current board president.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.