The Wallace Educational Forum is expected to reach substantial completion by Feb. 4, Assistant Superintendent Anthony Vann says.

“Which means you can use the building,” Vann said.

Rowan-Salisbury School System employees won’t move in until March, however, to give contractors the time to complete or correct last-minute punch list items.

But the schedule for the completion of the building’s exterior has “slipped somewhat,” Vann says. Several weeks of rain and wet, muddy ground has caused progress on grading, paving and other projects to slow to a crawl.

“That’s our largest hurdle right now,” Vann said.

But the work is still scheduled to be completed on Feb. 4, and Vann says that furniture will be brought in the following week. Following the completion date, a design team will tour the building and identify punch list items — paint touchups, carpet fixes and other small changes — to be corrected before the school system moves house.

“I’m certainly very pleased and excited that we’re going to be able to move into a new and efficient facility,” Vann said.