CANTON -- Work on Canton Central’s $15 million capital improvement project has begun in earnest this summer, according to Superintendent William Gregory.

Phase 1A, the initial asbestos of abatement in crawl spaces throughout the school that began in mid-June, is well underway and should be completed by mid-August, Gregory said. Areas that have been abated to date include boiler room and adjacent rooms; ceiling piping in hallways between the high school cafeteria and high school gymnasium; and the crawl spaces beneath high school classrooms and administrative offices, the high school cafeteria, and Banford classrooms and administrative offices. Still to be abated is the asbestos piping insulation in the ceilings of high school classrooms.

Phase 1B is boiler replacement and other infrastructure improvements.

Underway or soon to be is:

• Installation of main duct runs in high school hallways for return

• Dirt removal and construction of concrete pads in three locations in the high school for air handler units: beneath the cafeterias, under the administration offices, and at the juncture of the high school and middle school

• Possible replacement of the steps and landing at the entrance to the high school

• Replacement of bus garage lifts

• Installation of hot water piping in all crawl spaces

Projects scheduled to begin just before or soon after the opening of school include the installation of additional exterior site lighting, conversion of the swimming pool heater from steam to hot water, and installation of pool dehumidifier