Summer activity going on at schools

Maintenance and custodial staff at the Hot Springs County School District are keeping very busy this summer with various projects in preparation for the start of school.

Maintenance supervisor, Jere Apland, said the largest project going on this summer is at the middle school where the roof is being replaced.

Materials were unloaded on Monday and work began immediately.

Weather delays put the roofing off for a bit, which considering the hail storm we had last week, it was a good thing. The contractor was granted an extension on completion due to the weather delays.

Apland said the contractor agreed to have all educational and office areas completed by the start of school however, the gymnasium may go into the latter part of August or early September.

There is new flooring going into the kitchen at the high school along with one of the science rooms at the middle school and some minor additions and repairs to the flooring at the elementary school.

Not to be left out this summer, the bus garage office got a facelift, too, with new paint and fixtures as well as some expansion of the area.

Crews worked on sealing some cracks on the north end of the football field asphalt to slow erosion in the area.

Apland said they will be looking into new asphalt or possibly replacing the asphalt with concrete in the next few years as the budget allows.

The hallways in the middle school are getting fresh coat of paint and several rusted out exterior doors and frames there will be replaced this month.

Fire alarm systems in all of the buildings have been tested and the sprinkler systems will go through their annual testing this month, too.

Fresh striping on the parking lots its almost complete at all three buildings as well.

The custodial staff has been working hard deep cleaning the buildings and making room changes for many of the staff members throughout the district and maintnence staff has been keeping busy with grounds work and room repairs.

Gym floors are expected to be re-coated during the first part of August.