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Summer projects keep schools busy

Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Bark River-Harris Superintendent Jason Lockwood stands next to four new classrooms being constructed at Bark River-Harris School. Lockwood says the coordination of the construction project has been crucial to typical summer routine maintenance at the school.

ESCANABA — Maintenance crews in schools across Delta, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties are busy during the summer months performing planned, scheduled work while students enjoy the dog days of summer. Some routine maintenance and repairs cannot be done when children are in school, so summer is the best time to freshen walls with paint and perform repairs.

“Summer is actually a very busy time of year for our maintenance staff,” said Gladstone and Rapid River Superintendent Jay Kulbertis. “We tackle those items that really cannot be addressed when the buildings are full of students and teachers.”

Summer is the best time to maintain the flooring in schools. During the school year, floors take a beating.

“In the summer, we take the time to clean and protect the floors, stripping them down to the base coat and then waxing them to a brilliant shine,” said Kulbertis.

Other areas that get special cleaning during the summer months are all interior classroom surfaces (tables, desks), lockers and hidden areas that do not get the same attention during the school year. Mid Peninsula School District Superintendent Eric VanDamme noted normal cleaning, refinishing of floors and some painting are being done for the new school year.

A lot of time is put into taking care of the campus’ grounds by mowing the lawn and landscaping. Mechanical systems are checked and serviced through the school year, but receive special attention in the summer to keep systems running at optimal performance all year long.

“HVAC, windows, fire and safety, plumbing and fixtures, and our security systems all get the once over to make sure that they are in top shape and ready to go for the new school year,” Kulbertis said.

Sometimes schools take summer to renovate structures and go above the summer maintenance routine. In early June, construction started at Bark River-Harris School for a new early elementary wing, kitchen-cafeteria area, and renovations in school restrooms, thanks to a donation from the Hannahville Indian Community and the passage of a millage last May.

“Because of all the exciting changes, we’ve brought in additional staff to help with custodial and maintenance projects,” said Bark River-Harris Superintendent Jason Lockwood. “The construction project is by far the most exciting thing happening this summer … The coordination of this entire project has been very crucial to every other aspect of our typical summer routines. When the dust settles, the new additions are going to be incredible facilities that will provide amazing learning environments for our students.”

Bark River-Harris School is open to host typical summer activities, athletic camps and open gyms and a weight room while maintenance and construction is going on.

In many schools this summer, security systems are a focus. Michigan State Police gave grant money to some schools in the area that applied for the grant. The money awarded for security is to be spent by June 1, 2020.

“Security projects are a focus of our summer work for EAPS,” said Escanaba Area Public Schools Director of Operations Amy Cseter. “New wiring has already been run and installation of the cameras received from grant funds is on-going. The equipment for the new door locks and controls at the high school, Upper Elementary, and Lemmer are being ordered and installation is planned for the first week in August … We are also performing our annual inspections, cleaning, and routine grounds work at all the schools.”

As students continue to enjoy their time off from school, maintenance crews are busy within the school walls working hard to clean, perform annual or minor maintenance, and freshen up the buildings students will return to, to study once again.

“This work is coordinated around the summer feeding that is taking place, summer school that starts at the end of the month, and the student extracurricular activities that begin in August,” said Cseter. “A huge amount of work is done during this time insuring a smooth start of the school year in September.”

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