JP Cullen reports progress, future action on construction projects
It has been a little more than a year since Hamilton School District citizens voted in favor of a referendum to build a new intermediate school and renovate and add space at the high school, but in that short time, construction progress has been substantial. At the start of the school in September, several high school applied engineering & technology classrooms and labs were opened.
JP Cullen Senior Project Manager Shannon Metoxen provided a progress report on major work that has been recently completed and what is to come.
At the high school, the past 30 days focused on the classroom and office addition on the front of the school that included mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection rough work. Stone veneer was completed on all faces of the front addition. The district office area has a roof, windows have been installed and drywalling is underway. High school offices have windows and will soon have a roof. Windows are being installed in the classroom addition.
The next 30 days will see completion of the permanent roof, window frames and glass installed, building façade architectural metal panel nearing completion and continuation of drywalling and painting. Ceiling grids will follow painting and cabinet installation is slated to begin March 18. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protections finishes will continue when the ceiling grid is in place.
District staff are expected to move to the new space in May, earlier than initially expected so that the construction crew has more time to return the office space back into classrooms.
At Silver Spring Intermediate School, masonry crews installed interior walls in the music area. The north side receiving area and office outside walls are being brick veneered. Almost all roof joists have been set. With 80 percent of the roof decking completed, the remaining areas that don’t have roof decking are the library and northeast classroom pod. All stairs have been installed. Roofing is completed on the second floor of the south side classroom pods. First floor exterior windows are installed and 75 percent of second floor windows are in. After second floor windows are complete, the canopy will be the only remaining area. The steel stud structure on the canopy and feature columns are nearing completion and work will continue inside. Office drywall is almost complete. When the remainder of the building is weather-tight, drywalling will continue throughout the rest of the building. Crews have painted most of the office space and the gym is underway.
In the next 30 days, interior block work will be completed and brick veneer will continue around the building. Exterior metal panels will be installed and roofers finish up the roof and get the building weather tight. Concrete crews will pour the topping slabs and stairs for the second floor. Terrazzo installation will begin on the first floor corridors and break-out areas. Acoustical ceilings will be installed, followed by casework. When the gym is painted, equipment will go up. The elevator will be installed in mid-March. When the topping slabs and roof is completed, paint crews will paint the break-out spaces.
Cooperative agreement with Elmbrook approved
The School Board authorized district staff to once again contract with the Elmbrook School District special education services in the 2019-20 school year. The contract will provide low-incidence disabilities services for students who have autism, intellectual, hearing and vision disabilities and for the placement of one student at Fairview South, a school that serves students with cognitive disabilities. Hamilton is one of 26 school districts that contracts with Elmbrook for services. Districts reimburse Elmbrook based on usage of services.
Strategic Plan update presented
Human Resources and Organizational Development Director John Roubik gave an update to the School Board on the priorities of the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan. The district’s strategic planning team met Jan. 31 to review progress of each tactic, and it recommended continuation of the four priority areas of the plan which are:
- Systems of learning & assessment — All students will be challenged and supported to maximize their learning and achievement.
- Social & emotional wellness — All students will be supported to develop social and emotional wellness related to academic, career and life experiences.
- Workforce & organizational wellness –All staff will engage in continuous professional learning and be provided opportunities to improve personal wellness.
- Facilities & technology — The district will provide adequate classroom learning space while maintaining existing buildings and infrastructure and optimal student access to technology.
Personnel action
In personnel matters, the School Board:
- approved the retirement request of Woodside administrative assistant Phyllis Akins, effective June 30;
- accepted the resignation of Templeton special services paraprofessional Amy Jung, effecctive Feb. 25; and
- appointed Marianne Selkey as Hamilton cook, effective Feb. 18, Julie Bigley, district administrative assistant, effective March 18, Murrene Payton, Elizabeth Lodl and Nick Roth, as Summer Opportunities assistant coordinators, effective May 13.