Caledonia Argus

New school nears completion

Posted: 6/25/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

It is only a few days before the new middle school/ high school is scheduled for substantial completion, June 28.

This means that the major work has been finished and the amount of people working on the project will drop considerably. Last week, there was 73 people working.

The exterior of the building was completed last week with outside lighting to be completed this week.

The parking lot is now paved. Ken Cote', site superintendent for Kraus-Anderson, is relieved because mud is no longer being tracked into the building.

A major testing component that has been going on for the past two weeks includes the individual testing of the heating and air conditioning systems in the school. A balancing agent tests the air flow system in each room. Cote' said, ìHeís making sure thereís adequate fresh air in all the rooms.î

Rooms will have their own individual thermostat to be set according to the needs of the classroom. Cote' said there are 96 heating pumps in the new school. The old high school was heated by a boiler system. Head custodian Bill Woolley and his staff will receive training on all the equipment so that they can trouble shoot problems that arise.

This testing will be completed by the third week of July, said Cote'.

The balancing agent is also working on bringing the moisture content down to an acceptable level especially in the large gym, where wood flooring will be laid. Too much moisture in the air can cause the wooden floor to curl. The gym floor will be laid starting July 1, with bleachers scheduled to arrive July 15.

Until now, said Cote, there has been no attempt to control the inside temperature of the building. All of the testing will eventually lead to making the school a controlled environment.

As of Monday, June 24, the last of the new kitchen equipment was received. Some of the old kitchen equipment will be brought over from the old high school. Training sessions will be planned to teach all of the cooks how to use the new equipment, which will be ready to use after it is approved by the health inspector.

Seats will be installed in the auditorium by the second week of July with carpeting installed shortly thereafter.

A punch list has already been started in the new school which means someone comes in and takes note of anything that needs to be corrected, for example a scuff on a classroom wall or a stray paint mark. All of these things are taken note of and presented to the responsible contractor to make the correction. After the correction has been made, Cote' double checks the punch list himself to make sure that everything has been corrected.

Another walk-through of the school is conducted 11 months after final completion to check for any deficiencies, in case issues arise that are not immediately noticed at the beginning of occupancy.

Drain tiles have been installed outside the northwest edge of the high school portion to allow for perched water to drain. Water had collected underground during some of the construction, said Cote, which is common.

The school will receive a certificate of occupancy after everything including electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, has been inspected. The certificate is expected to be received by July 31.

Tours have been scheduled during the summer for students and staff to get acquainted with the school.

Moved band instruments keep CHS out of parades

The Caledonia marching band has pulled out of two parades this summer after its band instruments and uniforms were prematurely packed and placed at the new school.

Band Parent President Michelle Strabley said in the confusion of moving, the band room was moved early. ìThese events are victims of the move,î she explained.

The band last marched at the Founderís Day parade in early June.

The band did not march at the Brownsville parade on Sunday, June 23, and will also not march at the Eitzen July 4 parade.

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