Week of July 18 - 22, 2011

the Griffin-Spalding County School System's employee e-newsletter

published by the school & community services department 



the gscs
 COMMUNICATOR

system-wide straight talk

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It's SUMMER; and it's HOT, especially at Griffin High School!
by Bruce Ballard, Director of Facilities & Maintenance  

We are well underway with the Griffin High School addition, renovation, and modifications efforts thanks to our community's approving the last School SPLOST. In May, the State approved our Board of Education's FY 2012 Capital Outlay Program application for $5,792,275, allowing us to move forward at GHS.

The Griffin High School project kicked off in January when the weather was rather cold. Since that time things have heated up, near the boiling point at times, especially as we entered the summer months. Projects of this magnitude require a great deal of planning and coordination throughout the construction phases. Physical efforts began around spring break and have ramped up.

Gym
Initial efforts were centered on the addition of a multi-purpose room adjacent to the gym and the main mechanical system, which is the heart of the building operations.

Our maintenance crew cleared out the gym to accommodate the 'phase 1' renovation efforts that are now well underway. The gym changes consist of a major esthetic and systems overhaul which includes air conditioning the gym proper. Though most of the gym areas should be available around the start of the school year, there will be some ongoing efforts through the remainder of this calendar year.
  
  GHS gym
  
100 Hall
From the gym, the maintenance crew moved to the 100 hall where everything had to be removed in preparation for the start of the 'phase 2' efforts that began July 1. Since that time the contractor has performed mostly demolition efforts in that area of the building.
  
100 Hall GHS


Mobile Education Park

We have also setup a 'mobile education park' behind Griffin High School, consisting of 15 mobile units and a mobile toilet unit. This will provide adequate space to relocate students from areas of the building during the phased renovation efforts. Based on the contractual phasing of the project the 9th Grade Academy will begin the new school year at the 'mobile education park'.

 

Overall, the Griffin High School project is going relatively well. There is still alot to accomplish, and time is quickly running out for this summer. There have been several changes related to floor finishes and alterations to the P.E. locker rooms and weight room.

 

We are working with the architect, contractor, and GHS to minimize possible impacts related delayed delivery and installation of materials. It is currently believed that such issues may affect several areas in the gym which can be worked around relatively easily.

 

Other projects underway

In addition to Griffin High School, we are in the process of completing punch lists and remaining efforts at the Cowan Road Middle School and Jordan Hill Elementary School. Additionally, the student toilets at Orrs Elementary School and the kitchens at Anne Street and Atkinson Elementary Schools have been esthetically refurbished receiving new paint and tile floors.

 

During the summer months the maintenance crew has not only had to endure the hot temperatures outside but the increases that come with trying to perform the numerous required activities, along with the other moving and shifting that comes with the summer months and the renovation efforts. Accordingly the crew has also worked on annual summer tasks, work orders and other projects throughout our school system.

 

The heat is also on for the coming school year.

The cost of fuel, utilities and many of the other supplies and equipment we use continue to rise, though the economic downturn persists. We carefully reviewed and adjusted the FY12 Maintenance and Operations (M&O) budget to ensure the total cost of the proposed and subsequently approved budget remained in line with last year, which was the lowest it has been since FY2006. Funds were moved from M&O to fuel and utilities.

 

It is going to be another tight financial year. In order to maintain the budget we will need the help and cooperation of ALL personnel to operate more conservatively and responsibly, including respecting our system wide thermostat settings. If that is not enough to keep everyone warm, we also want to request your patience and understanding as we have to further prioritize the work order requests as we 'dare to do better' and attempt to accomplish the efforts with the smallest maintenance crew we have had since the 1980's though the overall area of our facilities has increased by approximately 55%.

 

Finally, I am asking you to:

  • Continue to responsibly conserve utilities
  • Be patient with us filling work order requests
  • Have a Happy New School Year!

Bruce 

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Elizabeth Benz, Editor

Griffin Spalding County School System
PO Drawer N
Griffin, Georgia 30224 
Important 2011-12 Dates
  
  
  
  
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