When construction workers at the new Southeast Middle School left the door open to the media room one recent day, rain fell in and ruined the floor tiles. Now workers must replace them.

A subcontractor can’t landscape fields at the school until a gravel entrance road is paved — work that recent wet weather has delayed.

Around the site, stacks of unneeded brick and other construction materials still sit.

Such are a few of the many reasons the new $7.29 million Southeast Middle School won’t open until after Labor Day, says Herman Troutman, director of building and construction for Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Construction companies at the site have been “hopscotching” one another, causing delays by holding one another up, he said.

“There’s just so much work that’s got to be done,” Troutman told school officials Monday night. “We’re so far away from 35 days.”

Troutman said he hopes the school building will be locked and secure by Friday. Presently the roof isn’t completely covered.

Principal Dr. Ron Turbyfill had hoped athletic fields would be ready for practice by the time other schools open on Aug. 7. Teams may have to share fields at China Grove Middle School until they’re ready, Troutman said.

School board member Vick Bost proposed hiring another company to finish building the school, but decided against it when he and others learned that the action could delay the school’s opening until next year.

At any rate, general contractor Lyon Construction of Winston-Salem may have to pay penalties for each day after Aug. 9 that the school is not completed. Called liquidated damages, that charge could amount to $500 per day per each of the five contractors delayed past that date, Superintendent Dr. Joe McCann said.

“Our objective has always been to open it as quickly as possible,” he said.