WETHERSFIELD - Glass for the new choral room is being put in, the track was declared fit for use last week, the south parking lot has been reopened, and another round of PCB abatement was knocked out during the Veterans Day closing.

       That was the high school renovation report Wethersfield Superintendent of Schools Michael Emmett gave to the Board of Education and members of the public who came to its Nov. 11 meeting.

       And the best part?

       â€�"We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll have the new wings open by next month,” Emmett told them.

       The new wings--the focal point of a $75 million project--are the additions of a new gymnasium, media center, and music room. Having the new gym, at least, available by winter has been a key objective for Emmett since the existing Gymnasium A was converted into temporary science classrooms this fall. The move prompted classes to be moved outdoors, which will become less feasible as the weather gets colder, he said several months ago.

       Having the space by then would also be good news for the school’s basketball teams, Emmett said. They will be able to return home after a season playing on borrowed courts all of last year--the boys were bused to Sports Science Medical Academy in Hartford for â€�"home” games while the girls’ teams played at Silas Deane Middle School.

       The high school’s track was closed in October for a full surfacing job. After it was paved, it was off limits for three weeks--the time it takes for the new surfacing to cure. The track had been worn from years of use and had developed cracks, Emmett said before that portion of the job began.

       This summer, contractors completed work at Cottone Field that included the replacement of the turf facility’s bleachers and adjustments to make the side handicapped accessible.