Wooden rafters groaned and metal pipes shrieked as both reluctantly gave way beneath the crushing blows of the demolition equipment steadily tearing down the old North Lewis Elementary School throughout Wednesday.

As directed by the Iberia Parish School Board, and in exchange for an additional 30 days to demolish the remainder of the facility, Gulf Environmental Services began removing the northern portion of the vacant school.

The specific geographical order of the demolition was requested so an entryway and parking for the new elementary school adjacent to the old property could be built in time for the school’s opening this fall. With demolition in progress only a stone’s throw away, Kim Berzas, owner of K&K Construc-tion, has already begun grading the drive from Lewis Street to the existing concrete drive.

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“They’re supposed to be done in two to two-and-a-half weeks,” Berzas said.

“We’re doing what we can until then. There’s still a lot to be done. We do everything. We work from before the slabs are poured to the final dress work after.”

While workers sweat on the roof overhead, Steve Witten, co-owner of Gulf Environmental Services, said one of his steadiest jobs is keeping track of people stopping by wanting to catch a last glimpse of the old school.

“I have to stop now and then to deal with tourists,” he said smiling. “We can’t have them on the site, so I have to run them off, for their own good. A lot of people went here, even my wife.”

Work is proceeding according to schedule, Witten said, after explaining how the contractors negotiated for an additional 30 days for the demolition with Harry Lopez, director of general maintainance for the School Board.

“We needed additional time,” he said, noting the requirement to remove the specific buildings before the rest. “We talked to Harry and he gave it to us, as long as we get this done.”

Witten said the project is proceeding well, excluding the additional task of keeping passers-by away from the ongoing work, and last month’s break-in at the site.

“We’ve had no problems other than thieves,” Witten said.

According to the agreement with the School Board, the contractor salvages any material of value from the demolition, so the theft of $200 to $300 worth of copper wiring last month was a loss to Gulf Environmental Services, Witten said.