School board itemizes projects status – Tullahoma News and Guardian

STAFF WRITER

Erin McCullough

During its February study session, the Tullahoma City Schools (TCS) Board of Education itemized the status of several maintenance projects, including the windows replacement at the Community Service Building, also known as old West, the parking lot at West Middle School and the gymnasium doors at Tullahoma High School.

Among the maintenance issues discussed by the Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education recently was the deteriorating condition of the parking lot at West Middle School, which is not holding up to seasonal weather changes. Staff Photo by Chris Barstad

Chairman Pat Welsh said the window-replacement project is finally complete after more than three years, and all windows on the side of the building facing Franklin Street are officially upgraded.

If you didnt see them beforehand, Im sorry, because you would understand how badly it needed to be done, he said during the study session.

They look really nice now.

The project took slightly longer than anticipated, with the original timeline projecting a 2016 finish.

Costing roughly $45,000 in total, the windows were funded out of a $150,000 non-standard maintenance fund that the board keeps separate from the total years budget, Welsh said in 2014.

The building houses several programs for TCS, including Kool Kids, alternative school and the adult education program.

Parking lot problems

One newer item on the maintenance committees agenda was looking over the parking lot at the current West Middle School, which is reportedly not holding up to the seasonal weather changes as well as the board would have hoped.

In January, Director of Schools Dan Lawson brought to the boards attention the status of the parking lot, which was facing more rapid deterioration than was originally anticipated, perhaps due to the sudden and frequent bouts of heavy rains that the area has been experiencing.

According to Welsh at the study session, the parking lot is experiencing a little bit of a drainage issue, and it is causing water to pool in multiple areas, which weakens the integrity of the pavement.

Welsh said during the study session that the board has contacted the services of St. John Engineering in Manchester to look over the lot and come up with a potential plan for replacement.

Other maintenance needs

In addition to the parking lot at West, the board is also in discussions with the City of Tullahoma regarding a shared parking lot on the north side of the administration building between it and the former Red Cross building located in front of South Jackson Civic Center.

The lot is currently composed of gravel.

According to Welsh, the city is hoping to turn the Red Cross building into a World War II museum and the lot will be paved to allow for increased visitor traffic, which would alleviate board concerns and funds for the project.

Also of note in Welshs maintenance committee report was the replacement of the inner gymnasium doors in Tullahoma High School.

The previous doors, which had been composed of wood with metal handles, were dangerously off-kilter and would not properly open or close, which posed a potential safety risk for both staff and students, according to Welsh.

Erin McCullough may be reached via email at tnrept09@lcs.net.

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School board itemizes projects status - Tullahoma News and Guardian