From the Desk of Beth Perrin

Director of Facility Management

School Committee Report March 11, 2005

 

I.     DISTRICT WIDE INFORMATION

    

A.     Architect Study for Gaudet Middle School and High School: Update

1.      Bonne De Sousa and Michael McKeon from Kaestle-Boos will give a report to the school committee on March 17th.

2.      The full written report will include: a) floor plans of the buildings; b) “As is” report on updates needed and code issues.

 

B.     OSHA visit: Update

1.      This report is enclosed for the School Committee’s review.

2.      Many of these items have been corrected and those that have program implications will have to be discussed to determine how to precede.

 

C.     District Wide School Programs and Plans: School year 2004-2005: Update

1.      Bookshelves: Ongoing Project

The facilities department continues to build and install bookcases at the High School and Gaudet. The elementary schools will be scheduled next.

                       2.    Sound System: (No new info)

The PTG from Gaudet School has ordered a new sound system for the Cafetorium. This is scheduled to be installed during April break.

 

3.      Elevator improvements: The State is requiring the following elevator improvements for ADA and Fire Codes for Certificate of Operation:

a.   Forest Ave Elementary School Passenger Elevator: hands free phone for ADA

b.   Aquidneck Elementary School Passenger Elevator: Stop switch, light, metal plates to cover exposed wood in hoist way (fire hazard).

c.   Gaudet Middle School: ADA compliant non-contact detector with Microprocessor fail safe, hydraulic elevator controller for emergency recall operation, and hydraulic jack unit.

 

4.      IP phone system:

a.       Atrion came to Middletown to review possible plans for an IP system on March 9th. They met with the IT department. (see IT report)

b.      Linda Savastanomet with Cox to find out about a new phone system, rewiring Aquidneck, and Voice Mail. We are waiting for the cost of this system. Because of monetary concerns this may be the stop gap needed at this time. We won’t know until we get the price. (Awaiting cost)

 

5.      Door Replacement, Repairs, and Upgrades and Security: Update (CIP)

a.       NE School Services has been doing the hardware updates (per Fire Marshall’s request) and repairs over the last couple of weeks.

b.      Mulleng Systems Management wrote an RFP (MHS: exterior cameras, swipe card and badge system, monitor, door “buzzer” and DVR. JFK/Forest/Gaudet: front door camera, monitor and buzzer. Aquidneck already has this system.). Ads were placed in Newport News, Projo, and Online. Cathy McLeish and Mr. Mulleng will evaluate the proposals. They are hoping to make a recommendation to the School Committee at the April meeting.

 

6.      Paving RFP: Update (CIP)

a.       Louis Berger Group has completed the RFP.

b.      The school system has applied to the DEM for a Freshwater Wetlands Permit at the west parking lot of Gaudet Middle School. We are hoping to be able to locate 2 new storm drain catch basins in the west parking lot. This is very close to the wetlands but won’t alter the hydrologic system. (see enclose facsimile and drawing)

c.      If this is permitted, the school system won’t have to cut up the existing asphalt and create more problems with the existing asphalt.

d.      Louis Berger said we shouldn’t hold up advertising while waiting for DEM’s answer.

e.      Ads were placed in Newport News, Projo, and online.

 

7.      Various ‘Other’ Projects: Update

a.       The facilities team has assembled another desk unit similar to those used in Central Office administration area. As before, donated parts from an office park were used. This unit is located in the outer office of the Superintendent. (Complete)

b.      A lunch room was made out of the room behind the copy area in the Central Office. This room meets with fire codes (heat sensor) and provides a private place for staff to eat. Prior to this the staff was eating on the collating counter in the Copy Room. (Complete)

c.      Chemical Hygiene Plan: MPS’s plan is in the finishing stages. We needed to add an addendum of all the products use by the school system and where all easily accessible MSDS folders/binders are kept for each classroom or office within the school. Most of these lists have been collected from various departments within the system. (In Process)

d.      Project List 2005-2006: A list is attached to this report of projects needed to be performed because of:

i.    OSHA, Building, ADA, Fire, etc. codes

ii.  Ongoing replacement projects

iii. CIP

This list does not include items requested by school administrators due to program changes that may occur.

 

II.            GAUDET MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

        A.           Painting Schedule:  Continuation

The first level is complete. The second level is about 75% complete.

 

B.           Data and electrical for Computers: Bond Update

We anticipate completion by the 4th week in March.

 

C.               Roof Top Chiller: (On hold)

At the end of last cooling season we were having some problems with a few coil leaks in the new chiller. McQuay (subcontractor of Honeywell) had an engineer evaluate this problem and they think that the best bet would be to replace the chiller at the end of March or in April rather than fix the coils.

                                                                                           

III.          HIGH SCHOOL           

 

A.           I.T.  Server Room/IT Work Room/IT Storage: (Temporarily On Hold)

The old “IBM” room (Rm. 8) has been divided into two areas:  Work room and Server Room.

1.       Work room and Storage: A workbench for doing computer repairs and an area for storing parts; equipment, etc. will be built when soon.

 

B.               Odor in Administration/Guidance Offices:

1.      These offices have had an odor that seems to come and go for quite a while.

2.      We had 2 visits from the gas company, 3 from the plumber, emptied the acid neutralization tank and spoke with a consultant before getting to the bottom of this mysterious odor.

3.      We had the same problem as Newport Hospital. The ceiling tiles installed this summer (the same ones used by many school systems nationwide) would smell from a combination of moisture and heat.

4.      We have changed the tiles in the guidance hallway, conference room, and guidance offices. The odor has been gone for over a week.

 

Update: The odor returned after 2 weeks. Gordon Air Quality Consultants, Inc. came to look around and make further recommendations. Nothing was found on visual inspection. Mr. Gordon recommended that we take air samples the next time the smell returned and send them to a lab for analysis. A day after Mr. Gordon’s visit we discussed the possibility of adding additional water to the traps throughout the school on a weekly basis. This was done immediately. The day after water was added to the traps a slight odor was noticed in the AM: air samples were taken and sent to the lab. Nothing has been found in testing so far. No additional odors have occurred since filling the traps school wide. We believe it is possible that the slight odor noticed was residual. Other testing for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) is being done.

 

C.               Lab tables: Complete

The tops of the lab tables in four of the old science rooms have loosened with age. In addition, the interior of the cabinets have deteriorated from storage spillage and poor construction. The facilities project team has removed each resin top, leveled the cabinets, made new interior cabinet bottoms, refastening the sinks, and refastening the tops on these tables. The gas piping has been cut off to these tables and will be reinstated if the class requires gas. Most do not.

 

D.               Interior Painting: (Continuation)

               The Facilities Team is painting the remaining classrooms that couldn’t be done last year. This        was requested by Mr. Ruscito in preparation for the NEASC visit.

 

IV.          FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

A.               Exterior Trim LeadLock and Paint: (Ongoing Maintenance and Lead Encasement)

On hold until spring

 

V.               J. F. KENNEDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

A.               Windows: (Bond)  

1.         Newport Glass Co. is in the process of replacing all Plexiglas windows in the front of JFK and on the North side. This will exhaust the bond funds made available to the school for window replacement (Oliphant top floor, MHS, Gaudet, front of JFK)-

a.  Installation complete, but we need warmer and dry weather to do the outside caulking. (Still on hold for warmer weather)

2.         We have ordered new blinds for the windows in front and north side of the building. (not bond)

 

VI.              AQUIDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Update)

An engineer from Fury Roofing has been out to look at the pitched roof at the cafeteria side of the “new wing”. Fury has tried to repair a leak several times without success. Temporary repairs have been made, but we are waiting for good weather to assess the need for further work.

 

VII.            OLIPHANT ADMINISTRATION / ALP

                        

 

VII.