Friday, August 24, 2018

This will be my last update on this very significant project. Once school had ended, we began to address the remaining rooms in the back hallway (where the main office had been relocated), following the same protocol we used for the rooms affected by the original January flood. The experts we hired to conduct special tests to determine the location of exterior leaks in the library and kindergarten wing (Western Specialty Contractors) were finally able to determine the source of those leaks, and over the summer they made repairs during what we are describing as Phase 2 of this project (everything beyond the initial moisture mitigation from the flood).  We continued to use ServPro for the bulk of phase 2 mitigation and construction because they were familiar with both the site and the procedures, and because we did not feel we could afford to take the time to ask for competitive bids.  Since this is an emergency project, we are free of the usual bidding requirements for school construction.

While working in the kindergarten rooms we noticed that the sidewalks outside the school were actually higher than the floors in the kindergarten classrooms. This presented a new potential source of moisture in that area, so we added a new scope of work to provide drainage away from the building beneath the sidewalks in that area. With work going on in the classrooms as well as on and around the building, we ran the risk of poor coordination and the possibility of not meeting our deadlines. Therefore, we hired a construction manager to work for the district to coordinate the numerous contractors and vendors to keep the project on schedule.

I am pleased to report that all of the teachers’ materials have been moved into the appropriate classrooms, and that all the teachers (except for kindergarten) were allowed back in the building this week to begin unpacking and setting up their rooms. You might recall that last February teachers had very little time to pack anything. They tagged the essential materials that they would need for instruction, then Servpro moved the tagged items to their new location and packed everything else for them. So, unpacking is a much larger job than would normally occur at the beginning of a regular school year. 

Earlier this week I received word from Adaptive Environmental Consultants that we have received full clearance to reoccupy the building.  We should be on target to begin the school year with all of the staff back where they belong and ready to welcome children for an exciting new school year! There will be a few miscellaneous items that will be installed just before or just after school begins. We did decide to order new student chairs that will be less abusive to our new tiled floors, but they won’t arrive until mid-September. We’ll also have to wait for some new office furniture to be delivered to the main office, Special Programs, Central Registration, and Transportation.

I know this is been a lengthy and burdensome process.  Our insurance company spent well over $1 million to repair the damage caused by the flood, and we believe our phase 2 costs will also exceed $1 million once all is said and done. But more valuable than the money we have spent, has been the time, energy, and dedication that the PBE staff has shown to make sure that children were never disadvantaged during this very complex project. I want to thank all of them for their exceptional efforts and our parents for their support and understanding. I look forward to welcoming back all the students to an improved, safe and healthy learning environment!