Seaside Middle School gets new heating, ventilation system

By Claudia Melndez Salinas

cmelendez@montereyherald.com @MelendezSalinas on Twitter

SEASIDE >> A lot of activity is taking place at Seaside Middle School, but students have nothing to do with it.

Construction crews are digging trenches, pouring concrete, and tearing floors apart for the school's $3.4 million upgrade that includes a new heating and ventilation system and new electrical system.

In the old system, a large gas heater would warm up the air of an entire wing in the school. The air would circulate through underground tunnels and come out in each classroom through vents, said John Silvestrini, executive director of maintenance, operations, technology and transportation.

"The old heating system was gas too, but the vents were underneath the room," Silvestrini said. "The vents have to be filled up with concrete."

Contractors are sealing the vents with sheet metal and concrete. New trenches are being dug to connect new heaters to the gas line. Each classroom will have its own heater and therefore, each teacher will have control of the classroom temperature, Silvestrini said.

The upgrades "are absolutely wonderful," said Seaside Middle Principal Joan Nugent. "We'll be looking forward to them."

Because there will be many more fans in the school, the electrical system also needs to be upgraded. Each wing will now have its own electrical panel, which means the classrooms will eventually have more electrical outlets.

But those upgrades will have to wait, Silvestrini said.

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Seaside Middle School gets new heating, ventilation system