Schools

A Clean Sweep Just in Time To Open Schools

It's a race to the finish as custodians, work crews prepare schools for teachers' arrival.

The day before I started school at Burnet Hill Elementary School, my Dad lifted me to the window of the kindergarten classroom so I could take a look inside. My teacher, Miss Lyons had already decorated the class to welcome her new students. I couldn’t wait to begin.

The windows are all brand new for this year's trying to sneak a peek. Their teachers are inside, setting up their rooms for the that begins Tuesday, Sept. 6.

It’s been a race to get the schools ready after a summer of construction. Custodians have been working 20-hour days to prepare the schools for teachers and students. “They are tired,” said Dr. Brad Draeger, the superintendent of schools. “They have worked around-the-clock. They have done a fantastic job.”

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There’s been a lot to mop and dust.

On Monday, I got to take a peek inside the new windows at the schools. The district arranged a media tour to show off the work that was completed this summer as part of a $55.9 million Voters approved the money being spent to install air conditioning and new windows in every classroom, upgrade bathrooms and remodel middle school auditoriums. The state approved the work and is pitching in 40 percent of the costs, one of the last grants it awarded for school projects.

Find out what's happening in Livingstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Summer was crucial for the first phrase as crews had just eight weeks to finish the work. are now in place on top of each of the schools (part of a separate $8.7 million bond). The duct work and electrical upgrades were completed for the next phase that will continue throughout the year. And bathrooms have been remodeld.

"We will be the best bathroom-equipped school in the nation this year,” Draeger said. The improvements help the district comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

More than 80 workers were on site at each school to complete the summer to-do list. The number of workers will drop to about 10-20 at each school when students return.

The large project is coming in under budget, said Board Administrator Steven Robinson. He led the tour, with Jamie Perrette of Turner Construction Co., the construction project manager; and Architect Jerry Rubino of Di Cara | Rubino Architects, whose firm specializes in school design.

“We survived an earthquake. We survived a hurricane,” Robinson said. “And we’re still standing.”

In recent days, it’s been a race to the finish. A large banner on the Harrison stage featured a dragon “all fired up about kindergarten.” Below it were dozens of boxes and a room full of music stands and desks, a scene only a knight in shiny armor could rescue and put pack in order. The work will continue throughout the school year with students “swinging” out towhile their classrooms get air conditioning and new windows.

But by Wednesday, the dust had cleared when Draeger welcomed 500 back for the new school year. Heritage Middle School IRLA teacher Maureen Biss loved her newly renovated classroom. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “The air conditioning is lovely.”

The included a video presentation featuring photos of custodians in front of each school.

 “It was really nice to see the custodians recognized for all of their hard work," said Deb Ostrowski, the new principal at Mount Pleasant Middle School. “They are our unsung heroes.”

Alison Freeman, the district’s interim manager of communications and community outreach, has provided updates throughout the summer on the construction for Livingston Public Schools. She contributed to this story.

 

 


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