National City

The opening of school will be delayed one week for the 5,300 students in the National Elementary School District in National City, a spokesman said Wednesday. The eight schools will open Sept. 21 instead of the 14th because six of the buildings are being remodeled, Max Branscomb said. The school year will end June 30 instead of June 23, he said.

The schools have been undergoing extensive remodeling during the summer, receiving new wiring, plumbing and windows as well as movable blackboards and other modern teaching devices, Branscomb said. Completion of the $4-million project will require an additional week, he said.

“Some of these schools are more than 30 years old and a couple are 60 years old,” Branscomb said. “And since teachers and parents have been enthusiastic about having modern, rebuilt facilities, the delay is not considered a problem.”

A ninth elementary school, Central, is on a year-round schedule and is not affected, Branscomb said.